Some personal care products contain flammable ingredients like alcohol.
That classifies them as hazardous materials (HAZMAT). This applies to transportation requirements, which changes how your order ships.
Here’s what to know.
What makes a product a hazardous material?
A high concentration of alcohol/ethanol makes a product flammable. For shipping purposes, that classifies it as a hazardous material.
The formal transport classification is UN1170, Class 3, Packing Group II.
This is strictly a transport classification. These products are safe to use and store at home as normal. The rules exist to control how flammable goods move through the shipping network.
In practice, this covers any formula with a high alcohol content, such as our Quick Refresh Dry Shampoo Spray, alcohol-based toners, some sprays, and fragrances.
If a product qualifies, you will see this warning on its product page:
“WARNING: Contains alcohol (ethanol), classified as a hazardous material (HAZMAT). Ships by standard ground only – no Priority, Express, or air shipping. We handle compliance for dropshippers. For manual and bulk orders, please visit this article to read more about shipping requirements.”
Storage
When handling these products, find all safety documentation in the product's Safety Data Sheet (SDS). The SDS is the standardized document that lists a product's ingredients, hazards, safe handling, and storage information.
Follow the storage conditions in the SDS. If you need the SDS for a specific product, contact our support team and we will share it at [email protected].
Who handles shipping compliance?
Dropshipping: we handle it. When Selfnamed ships directly to your customer on your behalf, we take care of every requirement below. There is nothing for you to manage.
Manual and bulk orders: you handle it. When you order in bulk and ship the products onward to your own customers, you become the sender under transport law. From that point, the rules below are your responsibility.
Shipping rules
We ship these products by standard ground shipping only. Ground keeps shipping simple and avoids extra costs.
Priority, Express, and air freight are not offered for these products, because air carries much heavier documentation requirements, covered in the next section.
Note: In Alaska and Hawaii, ground shipping is not available (see Exceptions).
Quantity and weight limits
Transport rules let small amounts of dangerous goods ship under a simpler set of requirements called Limited Quantity (LQ). Shipping as LQ is what keeps these products on standard ground, without a full Dangerous Goods Declaration (DGD).
LQ covers the following:
Each inner product packaging holds no more than 1L (per item).
The outer shipping box (master box) weighs no more than 30kg gross.
The outer shipping box carries the correct LQ marking.
Stay within these limits and the full Dangerous Goods Declaration (DGD) is not required.
Marking
The LQ marking is a standardized label that tells carriers a parcel holds dangerous goods packed as a Limited Quantity, so they handle and route it correctly.
The LQ marking goes on the outer shipping box (not on your product packaging or design). Common sizes include:
Standard size: 100x100mm.
Smaller packages: 50x50mm is allowed.
In the USA: a 25x25mm option is also permitted.
Trained and certified personnel
Dangerous goods must be handled by trained personnel, even at Limited Quantity.
When a shipment needs a full DGD, whether because it exceeds the limits above or travels by air, that declaration must be prepared by a properly certified person.
Exceptions (Alaska and Hawaii)
Ground shipping is not available to Alaska or Hawaii, so the Limited Quantity route does not apply for these destinations.
Orders to these states ship by air, which always requires the full dangerous goods documentation and handling, regardless of quantity.
If you exceed the limits, or ship by air
Over the limits. If an inner packaging holds more than 1L, or an outer carton weighs more than 30kg gross, the shipment is treated as fully regulated dangerous goods. It needs a full DGD prepared by a certified person.
By air. Limited Quantity rules apply to ground transport only. Air always requires a full DGD, regardless of quantity, from the very first unit, prepared by a properly certified person.
This is why we ship these products by ground, and why Priority, Express, and air freight are not used for them.
What to expect on delivery
No shipping surcharge. Shipping as a Limited Quantity by ground does not add any surcharge, so you pay the standard ground rate.
Ground timelines. Since these products ship by ground only, expect standard ground delivery windows rather than express.
Alaska and Hawaii. These ship by air, so they can cost more and take longer than standard ground.
Governing regulations for the EU and US
Shipping practices are set by transport, storage, and safety law. The rules differ by region:
European Union
Transport regulations:
Storage and safety:
United States
Transport regulations:
Storage regulations:
Still have questions?
If you are unsure whether a product in your order is affected, or you need its Safety Data Sheet, we are happy to walk you through it.
Reach out to our support team at [email protected].