How to use contact lens holders to carry small amounts of liquids, gels and creams

Heading away for a short business trip and frustrated by how much of your carry-on luggage your liquids bag is taking up? Use a contact lens holder to take only a bit with you for a short business trip.

Contact lens holders are leakproof, light and compact. That makes them perfect for transporting many different kinds of liquids, gels, creams and other things that are an airport security carry-on no-no.

Plus, you get to save weight by not carrying larger bottles with you, and save time at the security checkpoint with fewer liquids for the x-ray scanner to scrutinise.

Before you leave, just decant some of the gel or liquid into a contact lens holder, then screw the lid on tightly. 

Use a piece of sticky tape and a pen to remind you what's in each holder.

Here are a few ideas for creams, liquids, pastes and gels to pop into a contact lens holder:

• Hair styling product
• Toothpaste (especially if you can't find a travel-sized tube of the kind you like)
• Sunscreen
• Contact lens solution (obvious, but we still see people carrying 1.5 litre bottles of the stuff)
• Moisturiser (especially for the flight)

What's your favourite travel tip for keeping weight down and saving time at the security checkpoint? Let us know in a comment below or via Twitter: @AusBT.

John Walton

Aviation journalist and travel columnist John took his first long-haul flight when he was eight weeks old and hasn't looked back since. Well, except when facing rearwards in business class.