5 Things to Check Before Packing Liquid Cosmetics Over 100mL Bought in Japan or Taiwan in Checked Baggage to Korea
Plan to place bottled toners, cleansers, and lotions exceeding 100mL, such as 150mL products, in checked baggage, not in the cabin. The 100mL limit applies to international flight cabin baggage security screening. For checked baggage, you must separately check the operating airline's per-container capacity, per-person total, spray gas labeling, and the value of purchases when entering Korea.
The figures below were checked against each official page on October 9, 2026. On your departure date, open the baggage page for the airline operating your booked flight again.
The 100mL limit applies to carry-on baggage
JAL international flight guidance limits liquids, gels, and aerosols in cabin baggage to containers of 100mL or less, placed in one transparent resealable bag of 1L or less. Taoyuan International Airport also states that liquids in carry-on baggage must be 100mL or less per item and no more than 1L in total.
Even if you transfer some of the contents, a container labeled 150mL does not meet the cabin baggage limit. Setting aside bottles intended for checked baggage when you buy them reduces the need to take them out again at the airport security checkpoint.
- Example sold at Japanese drugstores: matsukiyo cocokara online sells Curel Lotion III 150mL.
- Example sold in Taiwan: Watsons Taiwan sells Target Pro Toner 150mL.
For checked baggage, count the capacity per container and the total per person
JAL includes cosmetics such as lotions and facial cleansers among examples of toiletry articles permitted in checked baggage. It specifies less than 0.5L or 0.5kg per container and less than 2L or 2kg in total per person. Therefore, if you bought several 150mL, 200mL, or 300mL bottles, add up the total amount of cosmetics placed in your bag, not just the amount in each bottle.
| Item to check | What to do before departure |
|---|---|
| Bottled cosmetics from 150mL to 490mL | Note the labeled container capacity and total capacity, and keep it within 2L. |
| Containers labeled 500mL | Compare whether your flight's guidance says 0.5L or less or less than 0.5L. |
| A group of cosmetics exceeding 2L | Separating them into carry-on and checked baggage does not solve the issue. Reduce the total amount of checked cosmetics per person. |
Korean Air restricted transport items lists perfume and hair spray as examples, stating a limit of 500mL or less per item and 2L or less in total per person for checked baggage. Even with the same 500mL label, airline pages may use different wording, so for a product that is exactly 500mL, apply the wording in the guidance for your departing flight first.
For spray cans, check the container labeling before the cosmetic name
Asiana Airlines restricted items guidance states that toiletry articles, including aerosols, are limited to a net quantity of 0.5L or less per item and 2L or less in total per person. Products that spray, such as mists, hair sprays, and deodorants, must be counted separately from bottled toners.
Put caps on sprays and pack them so that the nozzle cannot be pressed. JAL lists household and sports sprays containing flammable or toxic gases, such as LP gas, LPG gas, and DME gas, as prohibited in both cabin and checked baggage. Even if you bought it in the cosmetics section, first compare the gas labeling and hazardous materials labeling on the back of the container.
- Pump or capped types: Check the capacity per container and the total per person.
- Aerosol types: Check the capacity per container, total per person, cap, and gas labeling.
- Household sprays: Do not arbitrarily classify them as cosmetic sprays. Compare the product type on the airline's hazardous materials page.
How to pack checked baggage to reduce leaks and breakage
- Before removing the outer plastic from new products, photograph the capacity label and whether it is a spray.
- Close the cap or pump lock, place each bottle in a resealable bag, and seal the opening.
- Place glass bottles and pump bottles between clothes or pouches, avoiding the edges of the suitcase and the area directly beneath the zipper.
- Secure spray cans so their caps do not come off, then place them in a pouch so they do not touch other items.
- Keep receipts in your carry-on baggage or on your phone, not in your suitcase.
If you bought several bottles of liquid cosmetics, do not pack them all together on one side of your checked baggage. Organize your purchase details with a note listing the labeled capacities and the receipts. Then you do not need to take out every bottle when asked about the capacity at the airport counter.
When entering Korea, check the value of cosmetic purchases and perfume volume
According to Korea Customs Service guidance, the duty-free allowance for general goods is US$800 per person, and up to 100mL of perfume has been separately allowed since January 1, 2024. For purchases of toner, cleanser, lotion, and other items that are not perfume, add their value to that of other general goods and check whether it remains within US$800.
Placing items in checked baggage does not increase the duty-free allowance when entering the country. Add together cosmetics, miscellaneous goods, clothing, and duty-free shop purchases, and if there is an excess amount, organize your purchase receipts and prices by item for declaration.
| Item | Check before entering Korea |
|---|---|
| Toner, cleanser, lotion, cream | Add to the purchase value of general goods |
| Perfume | Check the separately allowed volume of 100mL |
| Multiple bottles of cosmetics | Check the total purchase value and whether receipts are retained |
Sources: JAL international flight restricted items in checked and cabin baggage
Sources: Taoyuan International Airport carry-on baggage liquids guidance
Sources: Asiana Airlines restricted items guidance
Sources: Korean Air restricted transport items
Sources: Korea Customs Service notice on improved traveler customs clearance regulations
Sources: matsukiyo cocokara online Curel Lotion 150mL product page