As of late, getting by means of airport safety virtually requires expert-level consideration. Ought to I take off my footwear? Laptop computer in or out? How about these batteries? And relating to liquids, it’s best to know, nothing over 3.4 ounces is getting by them … or is it? Over the previous few months, a social media development has emerged, with vacationers boasting about how they bested the TSA brokers with their magnificence merchandise by freezing them earlier than heading to the airport.

“I actually, actually hope this works as a result of I like this cleaning balm,” TikToker Discovering Fiona shared earlier than placing her frozen Elemis balm by means of the belt. A second later, it got here by means of, with Fiona remarking, “I am unable to consider that labored.” 

She even repeated the experiment with the identical consequence with a shampoo bottle.

And actually, social media stars like Fiona aren’t improper. Because the TSA’s web site explains, “Frozen liquid objects are allowed by means of the checkpoint so long as they’re frozen strong when offered for screening.” Nevertheless, it importantly famous, “If frozen liquid objects are partially melted, slushy, or have any liquid on the backside of the container, they need to meet 3-1-1 liquids necessities.” 

So, sure, you possibly can technically do that, however must you? 

“From my perspective as a dermatologist, freezing most skincare merchandise is usually a foul concept,” Dr. Hannah Kopelman, who’s accomplished two scientific fellowships in dermatology from Columbia College and pores and skin most cancers from Boston College, instructed Journey + Leisure. “The energetic substances in skincare—issues like retinol, vitamin C, peptides, and even sunscreens—are extremely delicate to temperature adjustments.” 

Kopelman defined that once you freeze them, the formulation can “separate or degrade, that means the product received’t be as efficient once you apply it later. Freezing may alter the feel, making lotions grainy or serums watery, which may have an effect on each software and absorption.” 

Melanie Abeyta, an aesthetic nurse practitioner and proprietor of Concord Aesthetics Heart in Los Angeles, agreed, including that “lotions, serums, and emulsions might lose their texture, efficacy, or stability after freezing … moreover, repeated freezing and thawing can compromise the packaging and trigger leakage or contamination.” 

Nevertheless, not all hope is misplaced in case you’re trying to get just a few merchandise by means of TSA. Based on Dr. Louie Kim, a beauty chemist, sure merchandise can “typically stand up to freezing,” sometimes these which might be “principally strong or anhydrous (water-free), like sure oil balms, strong cleansers, or wax-based merchandise.” Based on Kim, these merchandise do not type ice crystals as a result of “there is no such thing as a water in them, and because of this they’re much much less weak to freezing and thawing.” 

Kopelman added that some merchandise, like petroleum jelly, can often stand up to a freeze-thaw cycle with out shedding their integrity. “Sheet masks, in the event that they’re simply soaked in a hydrating essence, usually do high quality as nicely,” she famous. “That stated, I wouldn’t suggest routinely freezing skincare—it’s a lot safer to stay to travel-sized variations or switch your merchandise into TSA-approved containers so the formulation stays steady and efficient.” 

Kim additionally caveated the freezing recommendation by saying that “although freezing will not destroy anhydrous formulations, it’s attainable that their texture can change. Some pure oils, equivalent to shea butter and coconut oil, can turn out to be barely gritty in texture when cooled. Within the means of freezing and thawing, the antioxidant properties within the oil can flip dangerous as nicely.”

The most secure strategy, Kim stated, is to “use minis or switch your product into TSA-approved containers as an alternative of counting on freezing.”