Those Pesky Airport Restrictions, #45,600

I'm always getting asked about the restrictions imposed on liquids in carry on bags. We both get e-mailed about it constantly and comments regularly get added to old posts. Lots of you are very confused about it, it seems.

There is one, basic thing I want to say about it. Stop fussing about it. It's NO big deal, you just need to do a little planning ahead.

What you're not allowed to bring is large bottles exceeding 100mls. So this means you can't bring your 1.5 litre bottle of Finches to go with your homemade hang sangers on batch bread. You can buy something to drink AFTER airport security, or on the plane. So, phew, fire put out there, eh?

Now. On to the question of cosmetics.

The rule is that you can bring products on board with you as long as they don't exceed 100ml PER ITEM. Not in total, it's important to note. Since I've never in my life seen a lipgloss that exceeds 100mls (they're usually about 5mls), you can bring 10 of them if you like. You can also bring your perfume, as long as it's under 100mls.

Ditto moisturiser - which generally comes in 50ml pots. Lots of manufacturers have copped on to this new niche market and are making small sizes of products like deodorants and toothpaste to cater for people too terrified to travel the hour to London without a full complement of product in their handbags.

Even long haul is no problem, you just pack a carefully edited selection of things you'll definitely need. When I went to Japan I took on a small deodorant and toothpaste, 30ml foundation, sample sized moisturiser, a teeny perfume oil, lipgloss, mascara and some skin balm. Perfect. I freshened up as we came into land, reapplied my makeup and got off the plane looking grand.

The only thing you need to abide by, apart from the 100ml rule, is that your stuff fits into a 10x10cm clear, resealable plastic bag. Before you go through security, put all your liquids and pastes into it. This means: gloss, mascara, lip balm, liquid and cream foundation, moisturiser, perfume and creme blush. It doesn't mean lip and eye pencils, powder blush or pressed or loose powder. It also doesn't mean yout bic biro, by the way.

There are two exemptions and they are necessary prescription medicines and baby food.

That's it people. Clear as anything.