Seoul: Personalized Korean-style Makeup Experience

Korean makeup is not one fixed look. This session starts with your face shape and features, then turns that analysis into practical choices about foundation, eye makeup, and products that may suit you. Riha Kim’s approach is personal, with recommendations shaped around your own face rather than a one-style-fits-all tutorial.

I like two things here: you leave with a finished makeup look or a lesson you can practise, and you get a PDF guide to help you remember the products and techniques. One consideration: the session is short, and it is designed for natural, everyday Korean makeup, not party makeup or Western-style glam.

What to know before you book

• Your face shape guides the design: Riha assesses the balance of your upper, middle, and lower face before tailoring the makeup.
• You can learn or be made up: The experience includes a makeup lesson option for beginners and a full makeup service with product recommendations.
• Eyeliner gets personal attention: Several clients found the eye-shape advice especially useful, including tips for eyeliner and highlighting.
• A PDF helps you shop later: You receive product information after the session, so you can look for the items in Korea or use the guide at home.
• Arrive with basic skincare only: Existing makeup may limit what Riha can do during the appointment.
• Punctuality matters: If you arrive after the scheduled start, the session cannot proceed and ends immediately.

A face analysis, not a one-look-fits-all lesson

The session begins with an assessment of your facial proportions. Riha considers the shape of your face and the balance between its upper, middle, and lower sections. That gives her a starting point for choosing a Korean-style look that suits your features.

This matters because a makeup technique that looks effortless on one person can feel awkward on another. Eyeliner angle, emphasis around the eyes, and where you add definition can all depend on your eye shape and proportions. The aim here is not to copy a celebrity look, but to find a version of Korean makeup that works on your face.

Expect a natural, daily style. The service does not include party makeup, Western-style makeup, or false eyelashes. If you want dramatic event makeup, this is the wrong appointment. If you want a wearable look and advice you can use again, the focus makes more sense.

Choose between a finished look and a lesson

There are two kinds of help described for this experience, so check which one you are booking. The Personalized Make-Up Lesson is a one-to-one session for beginners and people who find makeup application difficult. Riha helps you choose suitable cosmetics and brushes, explains how to use them, and guides you as you do your own makeup.

That hands-on format is useful if you want more than a polished result in the mirror. You practise the steps, ask questions as you go, and finish with a complete look. The lesson is not intended for people who already feel skilled at applying makeup, so experienced makeup users may get more from the full makeup and recommendations service.

With Full Make-Up & Cosmetic Recommendations, Riha applies the makeup and sends an email listing the cosmetics and tools used. The service description also refers to a personalized product list and a PDF with information from the session. Since the wording distinguishes the services, confirm which option includes the lesson and which includes makeup application before booking. The key difference is straightforward: one teaches you to do the look, while the other gives you the finished look and product details.

Foundation, eyeliner, and products that suit you

The recommendations cover practical choices, including foundation color, skincare products, eyeliner designs, and Korean cosmetics. That can be more useful than leaving with a list of popular products that may not suit your skin tone or features. A good foundation match, in particular, helps make a natural look feel cohesive rather than visibly layered.

Eye makeup is another strong reason to book if you have never settled on a reliable routine. Several clients found Riha’s advice on eyeliner and eye highlighting especially helpful. One person who had struggled with eyeliner found the guidance fitted their eye shape, while another learned new ways to bring attention to their eyes. These are concrete skills you can carry home, not just a look for the day.

You should also expect to hear why a product or technique is being used. Riha explains the products during the session, and the PDF gives you a reference afterward. That follow-up matters: a quick lesson can be hard to remember once you are back at your hotel or standing in a cosmetics shop with a dozen similar palettes in front of you.

One client later bought an eyeshadow palette Riha recommended at Olive Young. That is a useful example of how the product guidance can connect to real shopping, but don’t treat the PDF as a guarantee that every item will be easy to find or available in every shop. It is a guide to what was used and recommended, not a shopping trip or a promise of stock.

The session, from arrival to your finished look

Allow 40 minutes to one hour, depending on the appointment. The exact starting times vary, so check availability when choosing a slot. The experience takes place at Riha Kim’s studio and ends back at the meeting point; there is no separate transfer or second stop described.

Arrive with basic skincare already done and as little makeup as possible. If you arrive wearing a full face, Riha may have less room to provide the service you booked. It is a small preparation detail, but it can make a real difference in a short appointment.

At the studio, the face analysis informs the makeup design and product choices. If you booked the lesson, expect Riha to guide you through selecting tools and applying the makeup yourself. If you booked full makeup, she applies the look and explains the products used. The supplied details do not set out a minute-by-minute schedule, so it is sensible to arrive ready to use the appointment time well.

Bring questions about the makeup problems you actually face. If eyeliner is difficult, say so. If you are unsure about foundation shades or brushes, make that clear early. The more specific your questions, the easier it is to use a short appointment for advice you can apply later.

The PDF turns a short appointment into a longer reference

The session ends with written information. You receive a PDF containing information provided during the appointment, including details about cosmetics and tools. For the lesson, the guide is described as covering makeup tools and cosmetics; for the full makeup service, an email lists the products and tools used.

This after-session material is part of the value. A finished look lasts a day, but product names and technique notes can help you repeat the routine or shop for Korean cosmetics after the appointment. People who find online beauty advice overwhelming may appreciate having one person narrow the choices to recommendations that match their features.

Still, the PDF is a reference, not a substitute for practice. It can remind you what to buy and how the look was built, but a new technique may take time to master. If you are booking mainly to learn, choose the lesson option rather than assuming a makeup application alone will teach you every step.

A private appointment with a strict start time

The experience is offered as a private group, and English and Korean are listed as the languages of instruction. That makes it a more focused setting than a large class, though the available details do not specify the maximum group size. If you are booking with someone else, confirm how the private-group arrangement applies to your reservation.

The meeting point is RihaKim makeup, on the first floor of the Ssangyong Namsan Platinum Building. The directions say to use the entrance beside the CU convenience store, take the elevator to the first floor, and walk to the end of the hallway, where the studio is the last office. The building floor directions can be easy to misread, so follow the exact location details on your voucher.

Be on time. The appointment has an unusually firm late-arrival rule: if you arrive after the scheduled start, the session cannot go ahead and will end immediately. Build in extra time to find the building and studio rather than aiming to arrive at the last minute.

The activity is described as being in Gyeonggi Province, while its title refers to Seoul. Use the voucher’s location information as your authority and check the address before setting out. The supplied details do not give a street address here, so do not rely on the title alone when planning your route.

Is $86 good value for this kind of appointment?

At $86 per person, this is a specialist beauty appointment rather than a casual cosmetics demonstration. The value depends on what you want from it. If you are new to makeup, have struggled to find a suitable routine, or want tailored advice while in Korea, the combination of face analysis, product guidance, and a take-home PDF can make the fee worthwhile.

The lesson option offers the clearest ongoing value if you want to recreate the look yourself. You are paying for instruction as well as the finished result, and the guide helps preserve the advice after you leave. If your main goal is to have makeup applied for a particular occasion, the full makeup option may suit you better, but remember that party and Western-style makeup are outside the service’s scope.

This is less compelling if you already know how to apply makeup confidently or simply want to browse Korean cosmetics. The lesson is specifically aimed at beginners and people who struggle with application, and the service is focused on a natural Korean look. For those who fit that profile, the personalized recommendations may save time and reduce guesswork during later shopping.

There is free cancellation up to 24 hours before the appointment, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms offer some flexibility, but the strict arrival rule means you should still plan the day carefully.

Who should book this makeup experience?

I would put this high on the list for a beginner who wants patient, individual guidance, or for anyone who has never found an eyeliner shape that feels right. It also suits a cosmetics shopper who wants specific recommendations rather than a long list of trending products. Riha’s sessions are described as friendly and detailed, and the personalized approach is the central reason to choose this over a generic makeup counter consultation.

It may also be a good fit if you have a photo session or another reason to want a finished look. One client used the makeup before a photoshoot and was pleased with the result. But the service is not advertised as event makeup, so do not book it expecting a dramatic party look or false lashes.

Before you pay, confirm that you have selected the right service: guided self-application or full makeup with product recommendations. Then check the voucher’s address, arrive with basic skincare only, and leave yourself a comfortable margin to reach the studio. If you want makeup advice you can use long after your visit, this is a practical, personal way to spend an hour in Korea. If you are already confident with makeup or want a dramatic transformation, save your money for a different service.

FAQ

How long does the makeup experience take?

The session lasts 40 minutes to one hour. Check availability for the starting times offered.

What is the price?

The price is $86 per person.

Which languages are available?

The instructor speaks English and Korean.

Is this a group class?

The activity is listed as a private group. The available information does not specify a maximum group size.

What should I wear or have on my face when I arrive?

The guidance is to arrive with basic skincare completed. Wearing makeup may limit the services Riha can provide.

Does the service include party makeup or false eyelashes?

No. It offers natural, daily Korean-style makeup and does not include party makeup, Western-style makeup, or false eyelashes.

What do I receive after the appointment?

You receive a PDF with information provided during the session. The full makeup service also includes an email listing the cosmetics and tools used.

Where is the meeting point, and what happens if I arrive late?

The meeting point is RihaKim makeup on the first floor of the Ssangyong Namsan Platinum Building. Follow the location details on your voucher and arrive on time. If you arrive after the scheduled start, the session cannot proceed and ends immediately.