UPDATE (April 14, 2021, 10:55 A.M. EST): On April 14, the TSA announced that its ruling on full-size sunscreens was an error. "Our website incorrectly reported that sunscreen containers larger than 3.4 oz. were allowed in carry-on bags, if medically necessary. That error has been corrected," the administration shared on its website. "Travelers still need to ensure liquids, gels, and aerosols in carry-on bags meet the 3-1-1 requirements and are no larger than 3.4 ounces."
This comes as a serious disappointment, to say the least. Everyone needs sunscreen, especially when traveling to sunny, far-off places where the dress code is nothing but swimsuits. That said, don't let it stop you from properly stocking up on sunscreen (vacation or not) wherever you go.
Deciding what to do with your liquid beauty products might be the trickiest part of traveling. Do you buy pocket-sized versions of your go-to's? Do you purchase miniature, empty bottles to fill with product yourself? Do you say “screw it” and ditch your liquids altogether so you can hunt down full sizes once your get where you're going? Everyone's got their own approach, it seems, depending on their destination, how long they'll be there, and how much room they've got to spare in their bags. But now, there's one incredibly important full-size staple we can all pack without fear: sunscreen.
Yes, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) just declared that full-size sunscreens are now allowed on flights in carry-on bags. That's because sunscreens fall under the category of “medically necessary liquids,” (as they should) which are permitted in larger amounts on carry-ons as long as you “declare them to security officers at the checkpoint for inspection,” according to the administration.
More specifically, you can pack sunscreens larger than 3.4 fluid ounces or 100 milliliters in a carry-on bag; you'll just need to make sure that you pack them in a transparent, resealable 1-quart bag (like you do the rest of your carry-on liquids) and present them for inspection once you reach the security checkpoint.
If you're getting ready for sunny summer travel or are just in the market for a new sunscreen, here are a few of Allure's all-time favorites for the body: Aveeno Sensitive Skin Sunscreen Stick SPF 50, La Roche-Posay Anthelios Anti-Shine SPF 60+ Dry Touch Gel-Cream, EltaMD UV Pure Broad-Spectrum SPF 47.
Dermatologists are, unsurprisingly, pretty damn excited about this new regulation. “So happy that the TSA is making sun protection easier,” says Mona Gohara, a board-certified dermatologist based in Connecticut. As she explains, any time spent out in the sun requires a lot of sunscreen — she can go through multiple bottles of the stuff on a single vacation. “For maximum protection, The American Academy of Dermatology recommends applying a broad spectrum of 30 or higher every two hours or after excessive sweating or swimming. It doesn’t stop there; you have to apply a shot glass amount of your entire body to really make it work.” The new rule, she says, allows people to have much better sun protection all around.
