Girlfriend, is that a hemp mitt dangling from the bathroom tap?

Is the counter lined with purifying masques, mineral soaks, and organic massage oils? Are shelves jammed with sugar scrubs?

Aha! You have a home spa.

Don't feel guilty, even if a resident guy mocks your pumice stone collection. He can't even tell OPI nail hues apart from Lippmann. Do-it-yourself pampering is a delicious way to nurture body and soul.

The No. 1 reason people go to a spa? To relieve stress. So relax. You, Milady, are part of a big, happy, facial-minded demographic. Even spa associations welcome the trend, calling home spa spaces a sign of wellness awareness.

"Spas are not about luxury -- they're about re-charging your battery, taking time to re-new, and learning how to take care of yourself," said Lynne McNees, president of the International Spa Association."Spas are about health, reducing stress and aging gracefully. The key is to take the information you learn at the spa, and incorporate it into your daily routine at home."

The bathroom is the hub of self-designated time-outs. Diehard devotees are installing hydrotherapeutic showers and tubs, mosaics, and glass tiles to their new sanctuary.

Spa "is becoming a hot marketing buzzword," Spafinder president Susie Ellis notes. "And spa-inspired tastes and trends are becoming interwoven into daily American life."

For spa lovers, the proliferation of products is intoxicating -- and accessible. A home spa can be as simple or elaborate as you please. The same applies to spa staples. For bargain-hungers, there's Sally Hansen's line of $6-$8 nail pens for quick paint jobs and clean-ups. Walmart carries SoftHug spa wraps, available in soft pink or white. Price: $15.

Godiva, meanwhile, is peddling $22.50 fruit-, truffle- and chocolate-scented candles, joining the ranks of spa candle giants like Avon, Bath and Body Works and the Soap and Paper Factory.

As for hair and skin tonics, soap and body washes, which run the gamut in prices, many hip newcomers are laced with antioxidants and vitamin derivatives.

Noodle & Boo's Glowology balms are hypoallergenic, Sponge skin-care products owe a debt to extra-virgin olive oil, and Wembe soaps contain traces of coconut (to exfoliate), passionfruit (to cleanse) and rainforest chocolate (for a yummy scent). Ooooh .... the Rodial LA Face-lift Kit includes fixings for a home chemical peel!

Beyond Mr. Bubble

The spa-fication of the home began over a decade ago, industry analysts say. Once a frazzled female lit a candle and drew a bubble bath to enjoy a little me-time.

But as more women assumed executive posts, the need to de-stress seeped like grapeseed oil into the American psyche. According to the ISPA, the number of spas has swelled annually the last 10 years. The current number stands at 21,300, up from 17,900 in 2008.

Americans paid 160 million visits to spas in 2008, a 15.8 percent increase from the year before. Women account for 70 percent of customers in the $12.8 billion industry.

According to local day spa owners, their patrons remain loyal even in this recession. But they are stretching their dollars, by stretching out appointments between roots touch-ups, waxes and pedicures, maybe booking a 30-minute massage instead of an hour-long rubfest.

For over-40s, hair color remains a priority, said Holly Novacich, owner of Josef & Mari's Salon and Spa in Munster. "Baby boomers don't want to age. I'm one of them," the curly-haired redhead laughed. "They'll give up a manicure before the hair color."

Novacich works seven days a week at her mauve-and-gold, Tuscany-inspired spa. If she's too busy to sneak in a little pampering at work, she unwinds by indulging herself at home. She conjures up a restful ambience by lighting a candle, turning on some jazz, and curling up in a warm, fuzzy blanket. "Then I put on some hand lotion, and maybe put some on my feet," she said. "I kick back."

The Cinnamon Tree in Valparaiso specializes in massages traditional (Swedish and deep-tissue) and alternative (hot stone therapy and Reiki, an intuitive Japanese technique). Owner Nikki Roe admits to snagging a free soothing shoulder or head rub on occasion. "All women seem to carry their tension in their shoulder blades, neck and upper back," she said.

But at home, she, too, goes the do-it-yourself route. Her tired tootsies rate top treatment. Roe may treat herself to an invigorating foot rub, scrubbing her feet with a homemade mix of sugar and massage oil, with a dash of teatree oil as an antibacteriant. She follows with a pumice stone, to keep her feet soft between pedicures. "Then I finish with shea butter," she said.

Nothing says mini spa day like a hot bath "with Epsom salts, because Epsom salts are detoxifying," Roe said. "I usually add a little bit of lavender essential oils and light some candles and just relax."

At-home spa treatment: Facial

Cleanse your skin using a gentle cleanser to remove surface oil, dirt and germs. If you have oily or combination skin, use a stronger cleanser; if you have dry skin, look for a creamier blend.

Exfoliate. Using circular motions, gently rub in your exfoliator or exfoliating cream in order to remove dead skin cells. Focus on the areas of your face that tend to be oiliest; these areas are usually the T-zone (forehead, nose, chin).

Steam. Fill your bathroom sink with warm water, dip your washcloth in the water and press to your face gently. Repeat two to three times.

Apply a mask. If you have oily or combination skin, use a clay-based mask; for dry skin, look for a hydrating mask. Apply mask to the skin, being careful to avoid the eye area (this can lead to sagging skin). Leave mask on for 10 to 20 minutes or as directed.

Moisturize. Apply a light moisturizer in order to prevent dehydrating the skin. Look for a moisturizer with SPF 15 or higher in order to protect your skin from the sun's harmful rays.

At-home manicure

Remove old polish using a gentle nail polish remover.

File your nails gently in the same direction. The modern look for nails is to keep them on the short side with a straight shape and slightly-rounded edges.

Soak your hands in warm, soapy water for a few minutes to soften cuticles. Use a gentle soap that won't dry out your skin.

Apply a few dots of cuticle cream and rub in gently.

Using an orange wood stick, push your cuticles back gently. Never cut the cuticles, as this can lead to damage and even infection.

Massage hands with a creamy hand lotion. Rub in for a couple of minutes in order to fully hydrate the skin, particularly if you are suffering from dry winter skin.

Wipe nails on a damp cloth in order to remove excess oil.

Apply a base coat before adding two coats of your favorite shade of nail polish. Always start on the side of the nail and use three strokes to fully coat each nail. Follow with a top coat, which will lock in your nail polish longer.

At-home pedicure

Soak your feet for about 10 minutes in the tub, or a pail or plastic bowl filled with warm water. Add a few drops of chamomile and lavender. They have excellent relaxing properties that soothe tired, aching feet.

Apply a cuticle softener; after a few minutes, push back the cuticles gently using an orange wood stick.

Use a pumice stone to remove dead skin cells. Wet stones work best. Gently buff in a circular motion.

Use an exfoliating paste or scrub, then apply a moisturizing cream in order to hydrate the skin, as well as improve flexibility and promote relaxation. Don't forget your toes!

Apply a base coat, then add two coats of your favorite nail polish color, as above. Follow with a topcoat. Only use nail polish on alternating weeks in order to avoid nail discoloration.

Adapted from www.epigee.org