Ahhh...Your At-Home Spa

Setting the Mood

How to Prep for Your Pretty Party Your girlfriends are due to arrive, but before they do, take 30 minutes to assemble your spa-at-home essentials, including:

Candlelight: A candle's soft glow is instantly soothing, and candles are the easiest-to-find ingredient of your spa kit. Great to try: Aveda Lavandou Plant Pure-Fume Aroma candle ($16) and Indigo Wild Almond Soy candle ($15).

Towels: Place an inviting stack of soft towels within easy reach of your guests. They'll need them to pat their faces dry after a good cleansing.

Aromatherapy Oils: Oils are the key to ultimate relaxation, and their therapeutic benefits go back thousands of years. Dilute a few drops in water, pour into a mist bottle, and spray the room. We recommend these three scents:

• Lavender: A potent relaxer, lavender is tops at easing headaches. Try: Neal's Yard Lavender Essential Oil ($20)
• Rosemary: Uplifting rosemary will give your party just the pep that it needs. Try: Elemis Rosemary Essential Oil ($30)
• Eucalyptus: Refreshing eucalyptus makes a great decongestant. Try: Bath and Body Works Eucalyptus Spearmint Essential Oil ($18)

Mood Tunes: Music can transform your everyday surroundings into a sanctuary. Slip an inspirational CD, like Across an Ocean of Dreams by 2002 ($14.99), into the sound system before your first guests trickle in.

Tools and Trinkets: Nail-grooming sets and neck pillows are fun take-aways. Your friends will love Ms. Manicure Marvelous Minis ($2.99), filled with nail-grooming essentials, or splurge on Dreamtime Foot Cozies ($54.99), plush aromatherapy socks.

Culinary Delights: The kitchen, always a magnet for get-togethers, will play a central role in this gathering, too. Stock up on fresh fruits such as papaya and bananas, both for delicious smoothies and do-it-yourself skin treatments. Green tea is a great hot drink, or dunk the bags in cool water and plop them right on your eyes -- the natural antioxidants will instantly reduce puffiness and relax you.