Dylan Efron Shares the $19 Travel Essential He'll Always Buy at the Airport

Leave it to Efron to pick something unexpectedly practical and honestly kind of genius. After years of traveling, he's learned that it's the smallest essentials that matter most. "When you're traveling, you always get run-down or sick, and these are the things that have saved me so many times," he says, referring to staples like Neosporin Original First Aid Triple Antibiotic Ointment ($9), Cortizone-10 Itch Relief Cream ($9), and Vick's DayQuil ($20). His reasoning is simple — being prepared makes all the difference. "I always have these with me," he says.

Mornings aren't exactly his thing, but caffeine definitely is. "I'm not a morning person, so I hammer caffeine in the morning," Efron admits. When he's home, that usually means firing up his Ninja Luxe Café Pro Espresso Machine ($750) to make iced Americanos, though he's not precious about it. "Sometimes it's coffee, sometimes it's energy drinks, I just need something to get going." Practical and effective — it's exactly how we'd expect him to approach it.

If there's one piece that perfectly sums up Efron's approach to style, it's the Kohl's FLX Golf Quarter Zip Pullover ($32, originally $40). He's not dressing for one specific moment, he's dressing for everything. "I like wearing clothes that I can be active in and then immediately go to dinner or a meeting," he says, which explains why this quarter zip has become a go-to. "It's that perfect little layered thing that looks like I actually dressed up."

For someone who's constantly on the move, good sleep isn't optional, it's essential. Efron swears by this Drowsy Sleep Co. Silk Sleep Mask ($79), especially after noticing a real difference in his routine. "I noticed the difference when I wore a sleep mask versus didn't," he says. Unlike others he's tried, this one actually stays put. "Most sleep masks fall off, but this one doesn't." It's a small upgrade that makes a big impact, especially when trying to reset after long travel days.

If there's one thing Efron refuses to travel without, it's headphones, and lately, he's been opting for wired pairs like the Apple EarPods Headphones ($19). "If I forget them, I'm buying a pair at the airport. I won't travel without them," he says. A big reason why? His love of audiobooks. "I listen for two or three hours a day," he explains, which has even led him to rethink constant Bluetooth use. Whether he's on a plane or exploring somewhere new solo, headphones are a nonnegotiable.

Haley Lyndes is a shopping writer and editor with more than seven years of experience in the publishing space. Specializing in home and lifestyle, she covers everything from furniture and mattresses to beauty products and fitness gear. Her writing has appeared in BuzzFeed, Travel + Leisure, and Real Simple.