THE ULTIMATE SPA BAG

As the Times’ hotel and spa critic, I have spent an enviable amount of time sitting in steamy rooms and stewing in chlorinated water. And what I’ve learned is this: When it’s time to be pampered, any irritation, no matter how minor, can spoil the whole experience. When you’re spending serious money on serenity, you want serenity, darn it, seamless serenity.

So I’ve learned to prepare for spa visits by packing a bag to meet nearly any contingency. In fact, my spa bag is less an item of luxury than a tool of the trade. In my travels through California spas, I’ve tested a series of bags and oodles of products. Over time, I’ve put together my dream kit, filled with everything I need to keep the experience smooth and me from feeling flushed and looking frizzy.

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-- Valli Herman

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1. The bag

When you sweep into a swanky lobby, you don’t want to look like you’re heading to the gym. Your bag is your calling card, and the ultimate spa bag must not only look good but also must be capacious (and fit into a locker), double as luggage (but not look like a suitcase) and be water resistant (and washable). The Hippo Duffel fits the bill. It zips closed to keep the contents intact, is part of a set of matching luggage (so you look coordinated), is scratch- and tear-resistant and comes with a lifetime warranty. Made by the Mulholland Brothers of San Francisco, this Hippo measures 10-by-17-by-11 inches.

$360 by special order at Beverly Hills Luggage and www.mulhollandbrothers.com

2. The watch

Spas often don’t have well-placed clocks -- and who wants to miss 10 minutes of a massage? Timex makes the women’s Expedition, a water-resistant sports watch with timer, Indiglo night light and a fabric band that breathes. And it’s inexpensive, so I can tie it onto the belt of my robe without a worry.

$42 at www.timex.com and select REI and Sports Authority stores.

3. The frizz fighter

Five minutes in the steam room, and my hair expands into a halo of Brillo. I found a lightweight, non-greasy, frizz-busting formula in Kiehl’s Silk Groom Serum. The lockable pump dispenses a conditioning blend of soy, sesame and sunflower oils that can smooth hair into a shiny ponytail or condition a light wave.

$16.50 for a 2.5-ounce bottle at www.kiehls.com and Kiehl’s boutiques

4. The scrubber

There I was, fresh from the ritual mud bath, but wouldn’t you know, I still had black mud streaks behind my knees. Spas are generous with towels, stingy with washcloths, so I carry a compact scrubber, Supracor’s SpaCells Facial Sponge. The antibacterial, antifungal and allergen-free Stimulite honeycomb material can remove makeup (and mud) and exfoliate and massage skin.

$28 for a pack of three at www.supracor.com, Fred Segal Beauty and spa boutiques

5. The headband

But sometimes, hair product isn’t enough. The ActiveHold Head Wraps from i/m active have thin elastic grippers running through the elastic bands. They look a little like lingerie straps but stick like glue, even in steam and under water.

$7.99 to $14.99 at www.studioim.com and Intuition, Los Angeles

6. The sandals

Even if you’re OK wearing sandals that 87 other spa goers have shuffled around in, they’re often stiff, ill-fitting and unattractive. Sensi sandals have an egg-crate sole that gives you a soft step and neatly allows water, soap and sand to drain out of side ports. The flexible but sturdy PVC material doesn’t harbor bacteria and is machine washable. Heel and toe cups allow feet to keep their grip, even with a coating of massage oil.

Tortoise Monte Carlo thong, $27 at www.sensi.com and spa boutiques

7. The makeup

It’s a hassle to pack a full beauty kit, so I need multi-tasking makeup. Per-fekt Skin Perfection Gel is a foundation that glides on easily, evens skin tones, hides imperfections, moisturizes and protects with vitamins E and A and best of all, dries to a powdery finish that helps absorb shine. The Hollywood-based company sells five shades of the gel.

$57.50 for a 1-ounce pump bottle at www.perfektbeauty.com, Sephora and Fred Segal

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valli.herman@latimes.com