Jaqua Girls combines beauty and bonding

By Sally E. Smith

Little girls love to giggle and play beauty parlor, and Sara, Allison and Jennifer Jaqua were no exception. What is extraordinary, however, is that the Jaqua girls have parlayed their memories of innocent fun into a festive line of Jaqua Girls beauty kits that can - and should - be shared with friends.

Their original offering, the popular Beauty Parlor Night Kit, is cleverly packaged in a paint can and contains everything (except the wine and gossip!) needed for an entertaining evening for six women: invitations, French Clay Mud Mask, Peppermint Foot Soak, Herbal Facial Steam, Cherry Facial Scrub, headbands, cuticle sticks, nail files, toe separators and more.

The Beauty Parlor Night Kit is terrific, but for those who have slightly more sophisticated tastes, Jaqua Girls' new party-in-a-can goes one better. This Top-To-Toe Spa Party Kit combines the comforts of a day-spa experience with the coziness of your own familiar surroundings. The Top-To-Toe provides you and five girlfriends with Pumpkin Papaya Face Mask, Honey Hand Mask, Mango Jojoba Moisturizer, Citrus Foot Salts, Chamomile Eye Soothers and Geranium Spa Spray, as well as pumice stone, lymphatic scrubber, floating candles, invitations and instructions.

According to Kathy Divinsky, spokeswoman for Jaqua Girls, the line's products are created from recipes that are as true to their name as possible. "Pumpkin Papaya Face Mask contains over 60% pumpkin, and the main ingredient in our Honey Hand Mask is honey," she says.

Their Nail Voodoo Kit promises to set the stage for a good chat, while you and your girlfriends play with Peppermint Hand and Foot Soak, Peppermint Lotion, Scented Glimmer Polish and nail decals.

Saying that "Jaqua Girls was founded on the commitment to encourage women to take time out of their hectic schedules to rejuvenate their bodies and minds," Divinsky stresses that women of all ages can come together for beauty bonding events. "Our 'Girl Gathering Kits' turn regular facials, pedicures and manicures into bonding experiences."

If you can't escape the city this fall, you might want to try Jaqua Girls' Urban Survival Kit, which includes a relaxation CD, Mood Shifter Aromatherapy Spray, Herbal Eye Soothers and a "Clear the Air" Sage bundle. Picture yourself in the jungle or on the beach, and you're sure to feel refreshed.

Other Jaqua Girls kits include the Bridal Party Spa Kit, for the bride-to-be and five of her closest friends, and the Traditional Japanese Bath Kit, complete with a bamboo ladle and seaweed soap. The kits range in price from $20-$35, and can be found at Bloomingdale's, Sephora.com, eve.com and ibeauty.com.

There's no doubt about it - the Jaqua Girls' sister act is a hit.