Seoul: Personalized Korean-style Makeup Experience

A Korean makeup session with Riha Kim is less about piling on color and more about learning why certain foundation shades, eyeliner shapes, and eye techniques suit your face. She studies the balance of your upper, middle, and lower face before creating a daily Korean-style look around your features. Face-shape analysis gives this short appointment a useful personal focus.

I like two things right away: you leave with a practical PDF product guide, and the advice is tied to cosmetics you can look for in Korea. I also like that Riha works in a private setting and speaks English and Korean. The main limitation is clear: this is daily Korean makeup, not party makeup, Western-style makeup, or false-eyelash application.

Key points at a glance

• Riha Kim studies your facial balance before choosing makeup shapes and techniques.
• The session is private, with English and Korean instruction available.
• Beginners can learn by doing their own makeup during the one-to-one lesson.
• A full makeup option includes product and tool details sent by email.
• Your PDF guide can help with shopping at Korean beauty stores after the appointment.
• Arrive with basic skincare only, since existing makeup may limit what Riha can do.

What the Korean makeup session actually teaches

This experience is built around the idea that Korean makeup should look natural, balanced, and wearable. You are not simply handed a new face for a photo and then sent away. The useful part is learning how to repeat the look after you return home.

Riha first considers your face shape and the proportions of your features. The description specifically refers to the upper, middle, and lower sections of the face. That may sound technical, but the practical result is simple: she can decide where makeup should add definition, where it should stay soft, and how your eye makeup should work with your particular features.

You may receive advice on foundation color, skincare products, eyeliner design, brushes, and other cosmetics. The focus is not on one fixed Korean look for everybody. Your recommendations are meant to fit your skin, face, and makeup habits.

That matters because Korean beauty shops can be thrilling and confusing at the same time. Shelves at stores such as Olive Young are packed with cushions, tints, palettes, sunscreens, primers, and skincare products. A named product list helps you shop with a purpose instead of buying whatever has the prettiest package.

Meeting Riha Kim in Gyeonggi Province

The studio is RihaKim makeup, on the first floor of the Ssangyong Namsan Platinum Building in Gyeonggi Province. The entrance to use is the one beside the CU convenience store inside Ssangyong Namsan Platinum.

Once inside, take the elevator to the first floor and walk to the end of the hallway. Riha’s studio is the last office. This is a small detail, but it is worth saving before you set out. The building information is more specific than a general neighborhood address, and arriving at the wrong entrance could cost you valuable minutes.

The appointment begins and ends at the studio. There is no sightseeing route or transportation between stops. That is good news if you want a focused beauty appointment, but you should allow enough time to find the building before your scheduled start.

Timing is strict. If you arrive after the scheduled start, the appointment cannot proceed and ends immediately. I would plan to reach the building early, then use the extra minutes to confirm the entrance and elevator rather than trying to arrive exactly on time.

The opening face analysis

The first important stage is the consultation and facial assessment. Riha looks at your face shape and the way its sections relate to one another. She then uses that information to plan the makeup design.

This is where the session differs from a standard beauty counter application. At a counter, you might test a product or ask for a shade. Here, the advice is intended to cover the whole look, including the placement and style of eye makeup.

The assessment can be especially useful if you know that something feels wrong with your makeup but cannot identify the problem. Perhaps your eyeliner looks too heavy, your foundation color does not sit well with your skin, or your eye makeup never looks like the tutorials you follow. The aim is to show you what works with your own features, not to copy a celebrity face.

You should arrive with only basic skincare completed. Arriving with makeup already on may reduce what Riha can provide, so this is not the place to come straight from a full morning makeup routine. Clean, prepared skin gives her a better starting point and leaves more time for the actual service or lesson.

Choosing foundation, skincare, and tools

After the face analysis, Riha recommends cosmetics that suit your needs. Foundation color is one of the stated parts of the service, which is valuable in Korea because cushion foundations and base products often use shade systems that may not be familiar to you.

The session also covers skincare products and makeup tools. If you are new to Korean cosmetics, you will get more than brand names. You can learn which type of product to seek out and how it fits into your routine.

The product advice is one of the strongest practical reasons to book. A makeup look can disappear when you leave the studio, but a useful list can guide your shopping for months. The information includes cosmetics and tools used during the appointment, along with directions for finding suitable products.

One important distinction is the service format. In the full makeup and cosmetic recommendations service, Riha applies the full look and sends an email listing the cosmetics and tools used. In the personalized makeup lesson, you are guided to apply your own makeup and receive information on suitable products and brushes.

Check the exact option you are booking. The lesson is intended for beginners and people who struggle with application. If you already apply makeup confidently, the lesson may feel too basic, while the full makeup service may be the better fit.

Learning eyeliner for your own eye shape

Eyeliner receives special attention in the experience, and this is often where a short lesson can have lasting value. A line that looks elegant on one eye shape can look heavy, uneven, or hidden on another.

Riha explains eyeliner designs based on your eyes rather than teaching one universal stroke. You may learn small changes in direction, thickness, or placement that make the finished look more balanced. The goal is a daily Korean style, so expect controlled definition rather than dramatic stage makeup.

This is also a good example of why the appointment is not simply a makeover. If Riha applies the liner while you watch, you can leave looking polished for the day. If you choose the lesson, you work through the technique yourself, which may take more effort but gives you a better chance of repeating it later.

The experience does not include false eyelashes. It also does not cover party makeup or Western-style makeup. If you want a bold evening look, strong contouring, or a dramatic lash effect, choose a different service.

Full makeup or one-to-one lesson

You should decide what you want before booking because the two formats serve different purposes.

The full makeup and cosmetic recommendations service is best if you want Riha to create the look for you. This suits a special day, a photo session later in your trip, or anyone who would rather watch the process than practice it during the appointment. The product and tool information is sent by email afterward.

The personalized makeup lesson is aimed at beginners. Riha explains how to select suitable cosmetics and brushes, then guides you through applying your own makeup. By the end, you have a complete look and a PDF with information on tools and cosmetics.

The lesson is not intended for someone already skilled at makeup application. That is not a flaw, but it is an important match issue. You are paying for focused instruction, not an advanced artist workshop.

The session lasts from 40 minutes to one hour, depending on the selected time and service details. That is enough for a focused face assessment and daily look, but not enough for a long, relaxed makeover with many alternative styles. Keep your expectations realistic and tell Riha what you want to improve.

The PDF guide after the appointment

The follow-up PDF makes this experience more useful than a makeup application that ends when you walk out the door. It contains the information provided during the session, including product guidance and, for the relevant service, tools and cosmetics used.

Several specific benefits come from having this information in writing. You can check a product name while shopping, remember the order of your routine, and compare recommendations later instead of trying to recall every detail from a quick lesson.

The guide can also help you shop at Olive Young or other Korean beauty retailers. One person discovered Olive Young and bought a recommended eyeshadow palette there after learning about it during the appointment. That is exactly the kind of practical help that can save money and prevent random purchases.

The PDF is not a replacement for paying attention during the session. Use it as a reminder and shopping reference. If a product is unavailable, you can still use the product type, shade information, or application method as a starting point.

How the reviews shape my value judgment

The experience has a 4.9 rating from 36 reviews, and the praise is notably consistent. The strongest theme is not simply that Riha can apply makeup. It is that she explains her choices clearly and adjusts the look to each person.

People with limited makeup experience found her patient and easy to follow. Others especially valued help with eye makeup and eyeliner. That points to a real strength for beginners who have watched plenty of online tutorials but still cannot make those techniques work on their own face.

Another repeated strength is Riha’s manner. She is described as pleasant, friendly, welcoming, and willing to ask about a person’s existing routine and desired look. That matters in a private beauty appointment, where clear conversation can make the difference between a style you enjoy and one you would never wear.

The detailed product information also receives strong praise. The guide can become a shopping aid during your Korea trip and a routine reference after you go home. One person even described using the instructions regularly afterward, which suggests the session can have value beyond the one-hour appointment.

The praise does not remove the limits. This remains a short, specialized service. It is not a broad skincare consultation with unlimited product testing, and it is not designed for advanced makeup artists. The best results come when you want natural Korean makeup and are open to specific advice about your own features.

Is $86 a fair price?

At $86 per person, this is not a casual beauty-counter touch-up. You are paying for a private appointment, individual face analysis, makeup guidance or application, and written product information afterward.

The price makes the most sense if you plan to shop for Korean cosmetics during your trip. A good product list can prevent expensive trial and error, especially when you are faced with unfamiliar shades and many similar-looking products. It also has value if you want to improve one stubborn part of your routine, such as eyeliner or foundation matching.

The value is lower if you only want a dramatic makeover for one evening. The service excludes party makeup, Western-style makeup, and false eyelashes, so it does not cover those needs. It is also less useful for an experienced makeup user who already knows how to choose products and apply them.

For a beginner, the private format is important. You can ask questions, receive advice linked to your features, and leave with instructions made for you rather than a generic tutorial. That personal focus helps justify the cost more than the makeup application alone.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the appointment for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms give you some flexibility, but the strict late-arrival rule remains the key logistical point.

Who should book this experience

I would recommend it most strongly to:

• You are new to Korean cosmetics and want help choosing products.
• You struggle with eyeliner, eye makeup, or foundation shades.
• You want a natural daily look rather than dramatic event makeup.
• You plan to shop at Olive Young or similar Korean beauty stores.
• You prefer a private session with English or Korean instruction.
• You want a written PDF to use after the appointment.

I would think twice if you already apply makeup with confidence or want advanced artistic techniques. I would also skip it if false lashes, strong contouring, or party makeup are your main goals.

The experience may be a good fit before a photo session, since the full makeup option can create a polished look for later in the day. Still, the service is described as daily Korean makeup, so you should tell Riha about any upcoming photos and confirm that the selected option suits your plans.

Should you book Riha Kim’s makeup experience?

Book it if you want more than a temporary makeover. Riha Kim’s service combines a face-specific makeup design with product advice you can use while shopping in Korea and at home. The strongest payoff is for beginners, especially anyone who has never found a comfortable eyeliner shape or reliable everyday routine.

Skip it if you want a Western-style evening face, false eyelashes, or a high-drama transformation. Arrive with basic skincare only, find the CU-side entrance in advance, and be early. If those conditions suit you, $86 buys a focused private lesson or application plus a useful reference guide, which is a fair deal for a beauty appointment designed around your own face.

FAQ

Where does the Korean makeup experience take place?

The session takes place at RihaKim makeup on the first floor of the Ssangyong Namsan Platinum Building in Gyeonggi Province.

How do I find the studio?

Enter through the entrance beside the CU convenience store inside Ssangyong Namsan Platinum. Take the elevator to the first floor, walk to the end of the hallway, and look for the last office.

How long does the session last?

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

Who provides the makeup service?

The experience is provided by Riha Kim.

What languages are available?

Instruction is available in English and Korean.

Is the experience private?

Yes. It is offered as a private group experience.

Should I arrive wearing makeup?

No. You should arrive with only basic skincare completed. Existing makeup may limit the services Riha can provide.

Does the service include false eyelashes or party makeup?

No. The service does not include false eyelashes, party makeup, or Western-style makeup. It focuses on daily Korean-style makeup.

Will I receive product information afterward?

Yes. After the session, you receive a PDF containing the information provided during the appointment. For the full makeup and cosmetic recommendations service, an email lists the cosmetics and tools used.

Can I cancel for a refund?

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