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My philosophy on creating a really spa-like experience:  You should feel soothed, transported — as though you have gotten an expensive treat and a real change has taken place.

Keys to this: engaging all the senses; putting the skin through tactile changes; and emerging with at least one visible result.

With those goals in mind, here’s what I’m thinking I might do for an upcoming girls’ night in!

For engaging all the senses:

• taste Offer some unusual teas, preferably with the latest super-ingredient. How about a Pomegranate Green Tea or a vitamin-packed Honeybush Vanilla Herbal Tea?
• sound Put on soft, instrumental music.
• scent Start a Yankee Candle plug-in* to fill the air with a spa-like fragrance such as the lavender-vanilla.
• sight Lay out a glowing candlescape with inexpensive, unscented white candles.** Lower other lights to a restful level.

To apply different sensations to the skin:

• Sugar scrub — literally, olive oil and sugar, perhaps with a couple drops of fragrance. Or my favorite commercial scrub (it’s not cheap, but it does leave skin beautifully soft): Bath & Body Works’ “There’s the Rub” salt scrub, $25.
• Warm dampened washcloths or hand towels, laid on the face or back, wrapped around the calves or feet; leave them there a few minutes, then ease them off, taking most of the leftover oil along with them.
• Next, exchange back rubs, foot rubs and facial massages.
• Then dry brush the skin for a stirring and invigorating sensation. Pat down with cool, damp towels.
• Last, layer on a nice soft lotion to soothe the skin.

At this point, everyone should feel invigorated, yet taken out of their daily routines and relaxed; ready for some meditation, perhaps, and then painting their toenails!

This 8-Minute Power Meditation has no jarring noises, just a Tibetan singing bowl and a lulling voice that calms busy brains completely down.

Then we paint our toes!

* It’s regularly $15, but one of those ubiquitous Bed Bath & Beyond 20% off coupons can help. Why do I vouch for this instead of a scented candle or a cheaper electric fragrancer? Because Yankee Candle’s scents are reliable, and because it works much better than a candle at putting out a pervasive scent. (There’s a sliding switch to adjust the output if it’s too strong.)

** With luck I can hit one of those 50%-off candle sales at Hobby Lobby.