Mascara sure doesn’t seem like a liquid, does it? But when you’re flying, what the TSA (or other transportation regulating bodies) think reigns supreme. And unfortunately…

Yes, in the US, mascara is considered a liquid when flying. It’s subject to the 3.4 oz/100 ml limit per liquid item rule when you carry on. Don’t worry, though: you’d be hard-pressed to find a mascara weighing over 3.2 oz. Most weigh far less.

Keep in mind that all your carry-on liquids have to fit in a one-quart resealable bag, though. So even though your mascara will be light enough to carry on, it has to fit in the quart bag with the rest of your liquids. If that bag gets too full, you’ll have to either leave some liquids at home or put them in a checked bag.

Other countries’ regulations on this may vary, but most will have this liquid rule. Here’s what USA Today has to say on the matter:

“These regulations [concerning liquids on planes] were developed on the international level by the International Civil Aviation Organization in the wake of a foiled terrorist plot to blow up a flight originating in London Heathrow using liquid explosives disguised in soft drink bottles.”

So it’s international regulatory bodies at play here, not just the US’s TSA.

So there you go! It’s probably not the answer you were hoping for, but hopefully it’s a helpful one.