Jill Bucy Skincare has beauty down to a science in Lower Queen Anne

How do you say "ahhh" in French? "Mon Dieu! C'est tres magnifique," will do nicely. And it's exactly the phrase you will utter after a visit to Seattle aesthetician Jill Bucy's new Lower Queen Anne skin care salon, which offers a variety of services, from French facials and massages to nail treatments and waxing.

The thoroughly French interior inside the historic 1918 MarQueen Hotel transports one to a Parisian atelier replete with turn-of-the-century crown molding, wrought iron and crystal chandeliers, chic gray walls, crème-colored leather seating and special touches like a mirror with an ornate white plaster-of-Paris frame.

Bucy opened the spa last November. She and her team of therapists (aka aestheticians) pride themselves on being graduates of CIDESCO, an internationally recognized program of skin care that originated in Zurich and requires students to have a thorough knowledge of anatomy, physiology and chemistry.

Treatments at Jill Bucy Skincare focus on the European/French philosophy of saving face (literally) by using natural products containing yeast, baking soda and other active ingredients to stimulate live tissue, rather than burning it off with peels and lasers.

"I believe you can age beautifully with effective skin care," says the youthful-looking, 44-year-old Bucy, who started receiving facials at the tender age of 12 and says that consistent skin care is the key to a radiant complexion.

I suggest the classic French Facial ($115), which includes a skin analysis, deep cleansing, exfoliating and extractions along with acupressure and lymphatic massage of other body parts such as arms, head and neck. You can also indulge in a massage ($85-$125 for 60-90 minutes), nail treatments ($35 for a classic manicure, $70 for a classic pedicure) and waxing.

An admitted Francophile, Bucy also carries an array of French skin care products including the exclusive Biologique Rechereche, loaded with active marine ingredients and priced from $27 to $250. Thal'ion is another marine-based seaweed line for nourishing skin ($25-$75).

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