Stepping inside Elizabeth Valucci skin care is like being transported to a chic Paris apartment. That is the illusion of this beautifully-appointed spa which has been tastefully renovated with antiques, contemporary furniture and state-of-the-art technology. Located at 7924 Germantown Ave., between Windfall Gallery and BnB Cigars, Chestnut Hill’s newest spa is off to an auspicious start.

“We had a soft opening in October 2022. It’s a word-of-mouth business,” Valucci said. “People want to go to a spa that their friends recommend.”

It doesn’t hurt that Valucci, 31, is a walking advertisement for her business:  a petite brunette with luminous skin who bares more than a passing resemblance to pop diva Selena Gomez. The day of our interview, she wore an ankle-length, black polka dot dress with a nipped waist and six-inch patent heels. “I like to dress for work,” she said. Indeed!

Valucci’s career path was a merger of passion and circumstance. “I always knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur,” she said. “Growing up in Blue Bell, I also knew I wanted my business to be in Chestnut Hill. This is where I came to shop with my mother. I love it here.”

In 2014, Valucci earned a bachelor of arts degree in communications at George Washington University. During her senior year, she had an internship with a skin care company. It struck a nerve. Following graduation, Valucci attended beauty school and received her Pennsylvania and New York esthetician license. 

“My parents were very supportive,” said Valucci, who went on to work at spas, including Rescue Spa in Philadelphia and with Dr. Margo Weishar, of Springhouse Dermatology. Valucci also worked in Manhattan for four years, including at the prestigious Joanna Vargas Skin care spa on Fifth Avenue, known for its celebrity clients.

Valucci looks forward to creating her own skin care line. In the interim, she offers celebrated European skincare products. 

According to Vogue magazine, Valucci is on the right track. An article in their January 2, 2023, issue predicts that global skin care sales will reach $207 billion by 2028. That growth also opens the spa market to much younger women seeking esthetic treatments in their 20s and 30s. Not because they have wrinkles. But because they don’t want to get them.

Meanwhile, Valucci is helping area residents regain their glow following the pandemic. “People stopped traveling, spent more time indoors and may have become sedentary,” she said. “Plus, they were not going out and socializing as much and may have neglected their self-care routine.”

Valucci offers custom facials and the “Ionix” Facial. “A custom facial combines traditional facial methods such as massage and extractions with a selection of high-tech tools like microdermabrasion and microcurrent,” Valucci said. “Clients have the option to select either 60 or 90 minutes. I always say the more time, the better.”

“The Ionix Facial is the most advanced facial in terms of non-invasive, anti-aging technologies,” she said. “It’s 90 minutes of high-tech tools that work to stimulate collagen. This is for anyone interested in the most effective facial rejuvenation without lasers, injections, or surgery. These modalities work to lift, tighten, tone and leave your skin glowing.”

According to Valucci, a facial every four to six weeks is ideal, but if your budget is limited, a quarterly facial will do. When it comes to price, Valucci is more transparent than other spas. “At a lot of spas, a basic facial is just the starting point for encouraging clients to spend more on things that slowly increase the price, such as microdermabrasion. They call them add-ons,” she said, “At my spa, everything is built into one price. People come to relax. I don’t want them to feel they are being pressured to spend more.”

For more information, visit: ElizabethValucci.com