India, March 10 -- As a travel writer, there are months when I sleep on planes nearly as often as in my own bed. Luckily, I have no problem dozing off at 10,000 feet, thanks in large part to the travel essentials I keep tucked in my personal item. After years of trial and error, I've finally perfected my in-flight packing list for more restful, uninterrupted sleep-and below, I'm sharing my tried-and-true staples with you.

Dozing off in a dry, noisy, light-filled plane cabin is no easy feat, which is why it's necessary to set yourself up with a few items to help block out light and noise and to upgrade your overall comfort. From the holy grail of travel neck pillows to the one esthetician-recommended skincare product I won't fly without,...