Though you can easily purchase spa party kits from many online retailers and spas (such as Jaqua Girls Body Mud & Scrub Spa Kit from Sephora), it is fun, easy and rewarding to assemble your own concoctions.

Set the stage atleast 3 weeks before by sending out spa party invitations, asking guests to bring open-toed slippers & a robe, or at least to dress comfortably in pajamas or sweatclothes. (See our Spa Party invitations or easily create your own).

One week before your party settle on the menu of treatments (see below), plan on 3-4 treatments per guest. Know that you may be too busy hosting the party to partake in all of them yourself. Purchase the necessary material, ingredients, and products (see below). Most common are pedicures, manicures and facials. Plan your hostess gifts (for ideas see below).

The day before your spa party hang a eucalyptus wreath on your front door or line your entryway with scented candles. Next, find a quiet space in which to stage your spa workstations, leaving only very comfortable chairs, fluffy floor pillows and a few tables (tray tables work well). Drape or hang white sheets around the designated room. Select soft, soothing music, gentle lighting, fresh flowers and lots of candles here and there.

Clean the bathroom. Stock up on hand towels, washcloths, cotton balls, gentle cleansing lotion and nail polish remover.

Plan a spa schedule (see below) for the party. Put together the trays of treatments to either rotate throughout the party or prepare one tray per person. Make a note card with simple instructions for each treatment. If some treatments are homemade such as foot soaks, hand treatments, eye soothers or facial masques (see below), list the recipe, ingredients and directions for use. Give your homemade spa treatments cute names or name them after your friends. You can also include a reflective quote or meditative thought. Place each tray in the designated room, ready for your guests.

A few hours before the party starts, set up a refreshment area with healthy beverages, such as herbal tea (use a thermos to retain the heat) or juices, ice water in a beautiful pitcher with fresh lemon wedges, champagne, wine or whatever matches the theme of your party.

If you'll be serving lunch or dinner, be sure to have everything prepared ahead of time, so you won't be busy in the kitchen away from guests. Food should be fairly simple and healthy - with lots of fresh fruit and vegetables. If you can afford it, many caterers offer fresh, healthy choices. Search the internet for spa menu ideas, visit our recipe page, or choose light appetizers.

A half hour before the party set the lights low, light the candles or spray soothing scents like lavender or vanilla. Play music, answer the door and put your worries aside.

Show your guests to a room to change and offer them a beverage. Once all guests are changed and ready, explain how the spa party will work. You'll still have your hostess duties (see below) to attend to but indulge in a few spa treatments yourself and enjoy being together!

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Menu of Treatments:

• Manicures
• Pedicures
• Facials
• Eye Soother

Suggested Supplies (either homemade or store bought):

• Ingredients for homemade treatments
• Footbaths and plastic bowls for soaking hands
• Inexpensive headbands
• Several hand towels and washcloths stacked neatly in baskets
• Thermoses, pitchers
• Additional large basket for used towels
• Dumping station for footbath water
• New nail files, orange sticks, inexpensive pumice stones or foot files
• Nail polish (ask friends to share or supply a sampling of colors)
• Cottonballs
• Foot and hand soak ingredients
• Oil and/or hand and foot lotions, moisturizers
• Gentle facial cleanser, masques, eye treatments, moisturizer
• Spa music

Homemade Treatments:

• Foot soak for tired feet and softening rough skin: Add ½ cup of Epsom Salt to a large pan of warm water. Sprinkle in flower petals or add lavender oil.
• Hand treatment: wash hands thoroughly with warm water, then, using a coarse washcloth, rub briskly. While skin is slightly damp, apply a mixture of one teaspoon honey and one teaspoon olive oil. Place hands in small plastic bags for 15 minutes. The heat helps the treatment penetrate.
• Facial masque: use 1tbs nonfat plain yogurt for oily skin types, 1tbs lowfat plain yogurt for combination skin, 1tbs regular plain yogurt for dry skin. Mash in 2 to 3 large strawberries. Apply to clean skin, then lie down for 15 to 20 minutes. Wipe off, then rinse with washcloth soaked in warm water. Pat dry.
• Eye soother: cut and refrigerate cucumber slices, place on eyelids for 15 minutes.

Suggested Schedule:

• Change into robes and open-toed slippers.
• Serve beverages.
• Explain treatments and the way the spa party will flow.
• Plan to allow at least 15-20 minutes per guest for each treatment.
• Allow for time to mix up homemade treatments.
• Towards the end of treatments, get food ready.
• Have guests do final rinses while you tidy up area.
• Serve food or allow guests to self-serve.
• Relax for a bit.
• Offer guests a place to change.
• Hand out hostess gifts.

Additional Hostess Tasks:

• Make sure that there are plenty of warm towels.
• Disgard used towels and washcloths.
• Replenish ingredients, products and warm water when needed.
• Refresh guests' beverages from time to time as well.

Soap Gift Set
Present homemade treatments in take-home containers
• An inexpensive CD of spa music
• Small candles
• Journals
• Personal care products