Seoul: Personalized Korean-style Makeup Experience

If you like makeup that looks like you, this is it. You get a custom Korean makeup design plus a practical shopping list built around your face shape, skincare, and eyeliner needs. I also like that the session is focused on daily wear, not glam overload. One thing to plan for, though, is that they ask you to arrive with only basic skincare done, and if you’re late the session may end immediately.

A big win here is the 1:1 feel. The experience is led by Riha Kim, and it’s designed for beginners who want the why behind foundation, eyeliner, and application steps. If you already do makeup confidently every day, you might find this a bit basic, because the lesson option is specifically described as not suited for those already skilled.

Key highlights you’ll feel right away

• Face shape analysis (upper, middle, lower balance), then makeup mapped to your proportions
• Foundation color matching and skincare recommendations that match your needs
• Eyeliner design for your eye shape, with clear guidance you can repeat at home
• Daily styled K-makeup, with no false eyelashes and no Western party look
• Hands-on learning (for the 1:1 lesson option), including brush and product selection
• A PDF guide after the session, including product info and buy lists

Korean makeup that fits your face, not a trend

Korean-style makeup has a reputation for looking flawless in photos, but the real reason it works is simple: it’s built around your features. In this session, the starting point is not a generic “K-beauty face.” You’ll get a customized plan based on your face shape and how your upper, middle, and lower sections balance out. That matters because Korean makeup usually aims for harmony, not just covering things.

I like this approach because it gives you a framework you can reuse. Instead of copying a single look from social media, you learn what to adjust for your own proportions. The result is makeup that tends to look natural up close, and still polished on camera.

One more smart detail: the makeup design includes multiple parts of your routine, not only the final look. You’re guided on foundation selection, skincare product recommendations, and eyeliner design. That’s where many “makeover” services fall short, since they treat makeup like decoration. Here, it’s treated like a system.

Where to meet RihaKim (and why being on time matters)

The meeting point is RihaKim makeup on the first floor of the Ssangyong Namsan Platinum Building. The easiest way to enter is through the entrance right next to the CU convenience store. From there, take the elevator up to the first floor, then walk all the way to the end of the hallway. The studio is in the last office.

This studio is set up for a tight time window. If you arrive later than the scheduled start time, the session cannot proceed and will end immediately. So, I’d treat your arrival like you would a museum timed ticket, not a casual meetup.

A private group format also means the session likely stays focused. You’re not competing with a crowd for time, and the instructor can keep the pace tailored to your questions and needs.

The session flow in plain steps (40 to 60 minutes)

This experience runs about 40 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the option and the pace of the plan. Even with that short timeframe, the structure is built to give you both results and repeatable guidance.

Here’s what the flow is designed to cover:

1) Face and routine check, then a Korean makeup map

You’ll start with an analysis of your face shape and overall balance, then a customized Korean makeup design is created for you. This is where the session earns its name, because the makeup choices are tied to your features, not random shades or patterns.

2) Foundation color and skincare recommendations

You’ll be advised on the foundation shade that fits you, and you’ll get recommended Korean skincare products that suit your needs. This matters because foundation and skincare are linked. If the skincare doesn’t prep your skin properly, even the perfect shade can look off.

The experience also asks that you arrive with only basic skincare completed. Arriving with makeup on can limit what they can do, since the goal is to work from a clean base and build the look step-by-step.

3) Eyeliner design for your eye shape

Eyeliner is often where people struggle most, and this is one of the most praised parts of the session. The instructor focuses on eyeliner design specifically for your eye shape, not one-size-fits-all wings.

If you’ve tried to copy looks online and they never sit right on your eyes, this kind of guided customization is exactly what you need. The emphasis is on getting the shape to suit you, then learning how to recreate it.

4) Make-up learning or full application, depending on what you choose

The session comes in two main service styles:

• Personalized Make-Up Lesson (1:1): aimed at beginners and people who struggle with makeup application. You’ll learn how to pick suitable cosmetics and brushes, then you’ll be guided while you do your own makeup. You finish with a full look and a PDF containing information on makeup tools and cosmetics.

Important note from the program description: it is not suited for those who are already skilled at makeup application.

• Full Make-Up & Cosmetic Recommendations: you get full makeup and you’ll receive an email listing the cosmetics and tools used.

In either option, you’ll end with a polished Korean look and a clear next step for buying products.

The Korean makeup rules you should actually follow

This studio makes a clear promise about style. The makeup is described as daily styled Korean makeup, meant to naturally enhance facial features. It does not include party makeup, Western-style makeup, or false eyelashes.

That matters for your expectations. If what you want is heavy glam, dramatic lashes, or a Western contour-and-highlight vibe, this probably won’t match your goal. But if you want everyday makeup that makes your face look more even, brighter, and better defined without looking overdone, this style choice fits.

A practical upside: avoiding false eyelashes can make the look feel more comfortable right away. It also keeps the focus on techniques like eyeliner shape, blending, and how your foundation and skin prep interact.

Eyeliner lessons that help you stop guessing

From the feedback people shared about this experience, eyeliner instruction is the standout. A lot of makeup artists can apply eyeliner. Fewer can explain how to make eyeliner work for your specific eye shape.

In this session, you get guidance that translates into action: not just where to draw, but how the design changes based on your eyes. People specifically call out how this becomes a life changer for eye makeup, especially when eyeliner has been hard for you.

If you’re the type who buys liner, watches videos, and still ends up with the same results you hate, this is the kind of instruction that can break the loop. It gives you a visual method to follow on your own face.

You might also learn small technique upgrades beyond eyeliner. One example mentioned is learning tricks for highlighting around the eyes. Even if you’re not a beginner with everything else, small changes like that can level up your whole look.

Skincare-first prep, so your makeup sits better

Korean makeup is often described as “skin-like,” and the reason is prep. This experience explicitly asks you to arrive with basic skincare completed. That lets the instructor work with your real starting point and recommend products that match your needs.

Since foundation color matching is part of the design, you’re not stuck with a shade that looks fine in a bathroom mirror but wrong in daylight. And since skincare recommendations are included, you’re also more likely to get makeup that holds and blends well.

Think of this as reducing guesswork. Instead of shopping randomly and hoping, you get a plan tied to your face and routine.

Your PDF guide, plus a shopping list for Korea

After the session, you receive a PDF with product information. In the lesson option, the PDF is described as containing information provided during the session, including guidance about makeup tools and cosmetics. For the full make-up and recommendations option, you’ll also receive an email listing the cosmetics and tools used.

The practical value here is huge: you’re not left with vague memories like eyeliner was pretty. You leave with names, product info, and a buy list you can use right away.

One helpful detail from people who did this experience: the shopping list made it much easier to buy the recommended items in Korea stores like Olive Young. That kind of guidance is especially useful if you get overwhelmed by shelves or you don’t read Korean labels confidently yet.

So the PDF is not just a souvenir. It becomes your personal “what to buy and how to use it” map for your next steps at home, too.

Price and value: is $86 a fair deal?

$86 per person for a 40 minute to 1 hour custom makeup design may sound like a splurge, but here’s where the value comes from.

You’re paying for three things that are hard to replicate cheaply:

• Personalization: face-shape analysis and makeup mapping, not a generic look
• Guidance: a lesson that can include brush and product selection, plus how to apply on your face
• Actionable follow-through: a PDF with product info and buying guidance

If you’ve ever spent money on products that didn’t match your skin tone or your eye shape, the cost can feel high. But if this session helps you buy the right things once, it can start paying you back quickly.

It’s also good that the session length is short. You’re not committing to a half-day transformation where you’re paying for time you could spend exploring the city. At the same time, the instructions are detailed enough that people describe taking the method home and improving their daily routine.

Who should book this session (and who should skip it)

This is a strong fit if:

• You want Korean-style daily makeup that enhances your features naturally
• You struggle with foundation matching or eyeliner and want methods that fit your eye shape
• You’re a beginner or you want a clear routine you can repeat
• You like the idea of leaving with a PDF guide and product list for shopping in Korea

It might not be the best fit if:

• You’re already doing makeup confidently and don’t need the step-by-step lesson style
• You want party glam, Western makeup, or false eyelashes, since those are not part of the service style

Also, because it’s a private group experience, it can be especially nice if you like one-on-one attention. You can ask the questions that matter to you instead of getting rushed through someone else’s look.

Tips to get the best results before you even arrive

To make this experience work smoothly, I’d plan around the expectations they set.

• Do your basic skincare only before you go.
• If you have a makeup question you’ve been stuck on, write it down. Eyeliner issues are a common topic here, but you can bring up anything you struggle with.
• Arrive on time. Late arrival can cut the session short. This is not the type of activity that stretches.

If you do those three things, you’ll walk in ready to learn and you’ll get more out of the customization.

Should you book this personalized Korean makeup experience?

Yes, if you want a makeup lesson that feels practical, personalized, and usable after Korea. The big selling points are the face-shape analysis, the attention to foundation and skincare recommendations, and the eyeliner guidance that helps you stop guessing. The PDF follow-up is also a real advantage, because it turns your session into a repeatable routine, not just a one-time photo.

I’d say book it confidently if you’re a beginner or you want your everyday makeup to look more intentional. Skip it if you want dramatic party makeup, Western styling, or false eyelashes, because the style rules here are pretty clear.

If your goal is to come home with a Korean makeup routine that fits your face, not just a pretty application for that day, this is the kind of appointment that can actually change how you shop and apply.