There are a million excuses to skip the shower after a gym workout, but consider this: even if you don鈥檛 stink (pro tip: always assume you do), sweating buckets weakens skin鈥檚 defenses while sparking a microbe population boom. That can mean breakouts or dandruff if you鈥檙e lucky, or conditions like athlete鈥檚 foot and ringworm if you鈥檙e not. These quick-drying, multitasking essentials will keep your locker-room grooming routine short, sweet, and effective.
Kiehls Cross-Terrain All-In-One Wash
Unlike bar soap, this multipurpose cleanser can be used multiple times a day鈥攅ven on hair鈥攚ithout drying you out. The herbal-scented coconut-derived suds are gentle but still rinse away every last trace of sweat and oil. A little goes a long way: a week of regular use barely put a dent in our bottle. $18,
The Body Shop Body Polisher Exfoliating Cloth
To prevent bacne flare-ups, leave the bath puff at home. This scrubby nylon cloth is extra long, so it loops around even broad frames for effective two-handed buffing of the whole back鈥攏o yoga-style contortions required. $8,
Gaiam Thirsty Yoga Hand and Mat Towels
No towel service? No problem. Gaiam鈥檚 microfiber Thirsty towels are nearly as plush as the ones at home but dry in half the time, so you can wipe down and hit the shower without sogging up your gym bag. They鈥檙e also perfect for taking the drip and slip out of mat work and stretching: tuck the 30-inch-long Hand size under knees, glutes, and hands, or opt for the 68-inch Mat to cover all your bases. $11.98 and $24.98,
Jack Black Double-Duty Face Moisturizer SPF 20
Muscles get all the attention, but skin also performs better with proper post-workout TLC. Jack Black鈥檚 lightweight Double-Duty lotion has it covered, with phospholipids to balance and restore, blue algae and antioxidants to subdue inflammation and redness, and SPF 20 to give skin a break from damaging rays. From $17,
T3 Featherweight Compact Hair Dryer
Throwing a beanie over a wet head saves time, but it also creates stubborn hat hair and turns the scalp into a haven for microbes. This travel-size dryer from T3 weighs just over three pounds and packs down to smaller than a shoe. It also dries hair in record time鈥攗nder five minutes for even the thickest mop, under ten for long locks鈥攚ithout frying it to a crisp, thanks to infrared heat and static-busting negative ions. The price tag is hefty compared to standard full-size dryers, but for a travel-friendly fast pass to great hair and a healthier scalp, we鈥檒l take it. $150,
Badger Balm Pomade
Need to whip hair into shape? Badger鈥檚 classic burgamot-infused pomade blends Babassu palm and coconut oils with beeswax to deliver medium hold and shine without feeling sticky or greasy. And just like the company鈥檚 other trademark balms, the all-natural formula nourishes and fortifies, and soothes chapped skin in a pinch. $16, 听
Acqua di Parma Colonia Intensa Deodorant Spray
Body spray can鈥檛 take the place of a shower. But use after bathing and it can help skin dump excess heat听and give the brain a little aromatherapy assist during recovery. We pack Acqua di Parma Colonia Intensa deodorant spray because it鈥檚 virtually impossible to overdo and smells classy as hell: refreshing lemon and bergamot mingle with spicy ginger, cedar, leather, and incense for a refined cologne that鈥檚 just as comfortable in the boardroom as it is on the trail. $42, 听
The North Face Apex Gym Duffel
With 45 liters of space, the water-resistant Apex swallowed everything we threw in it. For fast-and-light days, compression side clips keep the silhouette slim; unclipped, the Apex becomes a wide-mouth tote that works great showerside to keep your soap handy and your towel dry. And the volume doesn鈥檛 end at the main compartment: a vented external-zip pouch fits sweat-soaked duds, two pairs of shoes, and boxing gloves with room to spare. Bonus points: the internal stash pocket is lined with felt to keep devices extra safe. $74,
Buff UV Half Buff
Good: the burn of working up a good sweat. Bad: the burn of getting that sweat in your eyes. The Half Buff looks like our favorite cotton bandana but relieves the scalp of buckets more sweat for a less drippy and itchy session. Plus if you hang it up for a breather, it鈥檒l truly dry in minutes to help keep you warm when you head out the door. $13,听