Seoul: Personalized Korean-style Makeup Experience

The best part of this private appointment is the face-specific makeup plan. Riha Kim studies the balance of your upper, middle, and lower face, then uses that information to shape your everyday Korean-style look. This is not a quick brush-and-go makeover. You learn why certain eyeliner shapes, colors, and products work for you.

I like two things here: first, Riha explains the products as she uses them, rather than leaving you to guess later. Second, the follow-up PDF gives you a practical shopping list, including cosmetics and tools, so you can find the same or similar products in Korea. The main consideration is that this is natural daily makeup, not party makeup, Western-style makeup, or false-eyelash work.

Key points to know before booking

• Riha Kim leads a private session in English or Korean at her studio in Gyeonggi Province.
• Your face shape guides the makeup design, including foundation color, eyeliner, eye makeup, and other daily techniques.
• You can choose between a lesson and a finished look, depending on the service option available when you book.
• The session lasts 40 minutes to one hour, so arrive with basic skincare finished and a clean face.
• A PDF arrives after the appointment with product and tool information to help you shop on your own.
• Punctuality matters: arriving after the scheduled start means the session cannot proceed.

What this Korean makeup appointment actually offers

Korean makeup is often about control rather than heavy coverage. The goal here is to make your features look balanced and polished while keeping the result suitable for ordinary daytime use.

Riha begins with an assessment of your face. The information provided describes attention to face shape and the proportions of the upper, middle, and lower sections of the face. That matters because makeup advice copied from a video may not fit your features. An eyeliner angle that opens one person’s eyes can make another person’s eyes look smaller, for example.

The service then turns that assessment into a personal makeup design. The plan can cover foundation shade, skincare products, eyeliner shape, eye makeup, tools, and other Korean cosmetics. You are not simply handed a general list of popular items. The aim is to connect each recommendation to your own face and routine.

You should think of this as a private beauty consultation with makeup application, not a salon makeover built for a dramatic photograph. Riha’s work is directed toward a natural daily look. That makes the session useful if you want to change your routine after your trip, but less suitable if you are searching for stage makeup, wedding makeup, or a bold party face.

Choosing between makeup application and a lesson

The experience can serve two different needs, and you should pay attention to the option you select.

The Personalized Make-Up Lesson is designed for beginners or for people who have trouble applying makeup. Riha guides you through choosing cosmetics and brushes, then shows you how to use them. You are guided to do your own makeup, which is important: the point is to leave with skills you can repeat at home, not only a polished face for the afternoon.

This lesson is not intended for someone already highly skilled with makeup application. If you know your brushes, shades, and techniques well, the teaching pace may feel basic. In that case, the full makeup and product recommendation option may be the better fit.

With Full Make-Up and Cosmetic Recommendations, Riha applies the makeup for you and sends an email listing the cosmetics and tools used. This is the easier choice if you mainly want to see a finished Korean-style look on your own face and take the product information home.

In either case, you should explain your normal routine and the look you want. The appointment works best when you treat it as a conversation. If you struggle with eyeliner, say so. If you want a simpler morning routine, mention that. One useful result described by the experience is learning how to adjust eye makeup to your eye shape, rather than repeating a generic technique.

The face analysis is the useful heart of the session

Many beauty appointments focus on products first. Here, the face analysis comes first, which gives the session its real value.

Riha considers the structure and balance of your face before deciding how to apply makeup. That can affect where foundation is blended, how the eyes are framed, and how much emphasis is placed on different areas. You may also receive directions afterward that explain the analysis and show how to repeat the result.

This approach is especially helpful if you have tried online tutorials without much success. A video cannot see your face, your coloring, or the way your features relate to one another. Personal instruction can point out a small change, such as a different eyeliner direction or a new way to highlight the eyes, that makes the whole routine easier.

The guidance also appears to cover product selection. You receive advice on foundation color and Korean cosmetics suited to your needs. That can save you from wandering through a large beauty store and buying whatever has the most colorful packaging.

Still, keep your expectations sensible. A face-shape analysis is a makeup guide, not a medical or professional skin assessment. The supplied information does not promise a skincare diagnosis, and you should not expect treatment for skin conditions.

What happens during the 40-minute to one-hour visit

Your appointment begins at Riha Kim makeup, located on the first floor of the Ssangyong Namsan Platinum Building in Gyeonggi Province. If you enter through the entrance beside the CU convenience store inside Ssangyong Namsan Platinum, you will find an elevator. Take it to the first floor, walk to the end of the hallway, and the last office is the studio.

That location advice is worth saving before you go. This is a private office in a building, not a large beauty counter with an obvious street display. Give yourself time to find the entrance and hallway.

Arrive with only basic skincare completed. Come without makeup if possible. Makeup already on your face may limit what Riha can do, since she needs to assess and work with your natural features.

The exact sequence depends on the option you book, but you can expect the session to include several connected steps:

• A discussion of your makeup needs and routine
• An assessment of your face shape and proportions
• Advice on foundation color and Korean cosmetics
• Guidance on eyeliner or eye makeup suited to your features
• Application of makeup, or instruction while you apply it yourself
• Product and tool recommendations for later shopping

The session ends back at the same meeting point. There is no separate sightseeing stop or transportation segment. That is useful if you are fitting this into a shopping day, but it also means the appointment itself is the entire experience.

The timing is short enough to fit into a busy Korea itinerary. It is also short enough that arriving late is a serious problem. The stated policy says the session cannot proceed and ends immediately if you arrive after the scheduled start time. Plan for the building entrance, elevator, and hallway rather than cutting it close.

The products and PDF make the advice usable later

A makeup session can be fun for an hour and then vanish from memory. The PDF helps prevent that.

After the session, you receive a file containing information provided during the appointment. Depending on the service, it can include the cosmetics and tools used, product details, makeup directions, and a personal shopping list. The practical benefit is clear: you can refer to the advice when shopping in Korea or when rebuilding the routine at home.

This is especially useful in stores such as Olive Young, where the number of Korean beauty products can be overwhelming. One appointment user described buying an eyeshadow palette recommended by Riha at Olive Young. That is the kind of small, direct payoff that makes the appointment more than a photo opportunity.

The PDF also gives you a record of the makeup design. You can use it to remember the order of application, the products that suited you, and the eye techniques you practiced. If you are a beginner, this written reminder may be more valuable than the makeup itself.

Do not assume every product will fit your budget or be available in your home country. The experience provides product information and recommendations, but it does not say that cosmetics are included in the $86 price. Treat the PDF as a shopping guide, not a product package.

What people praise about Riha’s instruction

The strongest theme in the feedback is Riha’s patient, personal teaching. People who know little about makeup describe her explanations as easy to follow and suited to their individual needs. That matters if you feel lost among Korean beauty trends or do not know which brushes and products are essential.

Her manner also seems to be a major part of the experience. The appointment is private, and the feedback describes Riha as friendly, welcoming, pleasant, and easy to talk to. That can make a difference when someone is working closely around your eyes and face.

Another highly praised point is the eye makeup. Several comments focus on learning how to work with a particular eye shape, especially eyeliner. This is often the hardest part of a daily routine, so a small correction from Riha may be more useful than a large collection of new products.

The finished makeup has also worked for occasions such as a later photoshoot, while still being described as Korean-style daily makeup. That suggests the look can photograph well without being designed as formal event makeup. You should still tell Riha if you have a photoshoot or special plan afterward, since the service does not advertise party or Western-style makeup.

Finally, the detailed product list receives strong approval. The information can help you buy products in Korea, choose gifts, and continue practicing after you return home. That follow-through is one of the best reasons to choose this appointment over a makeover with no instruction.

Price and value at $86 per person

At $86 per person, this is not a cheap beauty-store consultation. You are paying for a private appointment lasting 40 minutes to one hour, personal analysis, makeup guidance or application, and written product information afterward.

The value depends on your goal. If you only want a quick makeover and do not plan to change your routine, the price may feel high for a short session. You could spend less on cosmetics alone, though you would not receive the same face-specific advice.

If you are a beginner, the value is stronger. A good explanation of foundation shade, eyeliner, brushes, and application order can prevent several bad purchases. The PDF also gives you something to use after the appointment, which makes the fee easier to justify.

You should also consider the private format. This is not a large group demonstration where you watch someone else receive makeup advice. Your questions and face receive the attention. The private setting is useful for anyone who feels shy about asking basic questions.

The price does not appear to include products, transportation, or a separate shopping trip. Budget extra if you want to buy the recommended cosmetics afterward. You can use the PDF to shop independently.

Who will get the most from this experience

I would recommend this appointment most strongly to:

• Beginners who do not know where to start with makeup
• People who struggle with eyeliner or eye makeup
• Anyone unsure which foundation shade or Korean products suit them
• Visitors who want a natural daily Korean makeup look
• Shoppers planning to visit Korean beauty stores after the appointment
• People who want a private, English-friendly beauty session

It may not suit you if you already apply makeup confidently and only want advanced techniques. It is also not the right pick for party makeup, Western-style makeup, or false eyelashes, since those are specifically outside the service.

The appointment can also be a good fit if you want a beauty memory that remains useful after your holiday. The PDF, product list, and face-specific instructions give you something practical to take home.

Booking, language, and cancellation details

The experience is offered as a private group activity, with instruction in English or Korean. That makes it a straightforward option for visitors who do not speak Korean.

The advertised duration is 40 minutes to one hour, with starting times shown according to availability. Reserve a slot that leaves enough time for you to reach the building without rushing.

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. A reserve-now-and-pay-later option is also available, which can help if your Korea schedule is still changing. Read the exact voucher details after booking, especially the meeting location, since the studio is inside the Ssangyong Namsan Platinum Building.

The current rating is 4.9 from 36 reviews, but the more useful point is the pattern behind that number: personal attention, clear explanations, eye makeup help, and the follow-up product guide.

Should you book Riha Kim’s Korean makeup session?

Book it if you want more than a temporary makeover. The strongest reason to go is the combination of personal face analysis and usable instruction. You leave with a better idea of how to choose products, how to shape your eyeliner, and how to repeat the look.

The $86 price makes the most sense for beginners, beauty shoppers, and anyone who has struggled to translate Korean makeup videos into a routine that works on their own face. Arrive bare-faced, bring your questions, and allow time to find the studio.

Skip it if you want dramatic event makeup, false lashes, or an advanced lesson for someone already comfortable with cosmetics. For the right person, though, this is a practical beauty appointment that can keep helping long after the makeup has been washed off.

FAQ

Where does the Korean makeup experience take place?

It takes place at Riha Kim makeup on the first floor of the Ssangyong Namsan Platinum Building in Gyeonggi Province.

How do I find the studio inside the building?

Use the entrance beside the CU convenience store in Ssangyong Namsan Platinum. Take the elevator to the first floor, walk to the end of the hallway, and the studio is the last office.

How long does the appointment last?

The experience lasts 40 minutes to one hour. Available starting times are shown when you check the booking options.

What languages are available?

Riha Kim provides the experience in English or Korean.

Should I arrive wearing makeup?

No. You should arrive with only basic skincare completed. Wearing makeup may limit the services that can be provided.

Does the service include false eyelashes or party makeup?

No. The service is for natural daily Korean makeup and does not include party makeup, Western-style makeup, or false eyelashes.

Will I receive product information afterward?

Yes. After the session, you receive a PDF with information provided during the appointment. The full makeup and cosmetic recommendations service also includes an email listing the cosmetics and tools used.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. A reserve-now-and-pay-later option is also available.