Your face gets its own makeup plan.

In Seoul, Riha Kim uses a close face analysis to build a Korean-style makeup look around your features, from foundation shade to eyeliner design, with product recommendations that fit your skin needs.

I love the way the session starts with a real check of your face proportions, including how your upper, middle, and lower areas balance out. I also love that you leave with a PDF guide that helps you recreate the look later, including details on tools and what to buy.

One consideration: this is meant for daily, naturally enhancing Korean makeup (no Western or party style, and no false eyelashes), so if you want a glam event look or you already have a strong routine nailed down, this may not be the best match.

Key Takeaways Before You Go

• Face-proportion analysis first, so the makeup design fits your structure, not just a trend.
• Eyeliner coaching by eye shape, which can be a game changer if you struggle with that step.
• Beginner-friendly 1:1 lesson, where you learn to choose products and apply them while being guided.
• Leave with a PDF product guide, plus a written breakdown of what was used and where to shop.
• Daily Korean look only, with no Western/party makeup and no false eyelashes.

Finding RihaKim Studio in Ssangyong Namsan Platinum

This is a private, instructor-led session, and it’s held at RihaKim makeup on the first floor of Ssangyong Namsan Platinum Building. The location matters because the studio is in a small office corridor, not a big storefront, so give yourself buffer time.

Use this route: enter through the entrance right next to the CU convenience store in Ssangyong Namsan Platinum. Then take the elevator up to the first floor, walk down the hallway to the end, and the studio is the last office there. If you arrive later than the scheduled start time, the session can’t proceed and ends immediately, so arriving on time is really part of the experience.

The instructor is English and Korean speaking, so you can ask questions clearly about shade choice, skincare steps, brush use, and eyeliner shape. Since this is a private group, the time is focused on you rather than a large shared class.

How the Korean Makeup Design Is Built for Your Face

The core of the experience is the personalized Korean makeup plan. You don’t just pick from a set style. Riha Kim analyzes your face shape and your feature balance, paying attention to how the upper, middle, and lower parts work together.

From there, the session builds the look in a practical order:

• foundation color recommendation based on your face needs
• skincare product guidance (so your base looks smooth and even)
• eyeliner design designed for your eye shape
• a complete makeup routine “map,” so you know how to repeat it later

That structure is one reason this feels more useful than watching makeup videos. Instead of memorizing random steps, you get a method tied to your own proportions. If you’ve ever tried to copy a trend and ended up with makeup that looked off in photos or under different lighting, the “face-balance first” approach helps prevent that.

I also like that this is designed as a daily Korean makeup look. That means you’re learning something you can wear again, not just a look made for a single event.

The Big Coaching Moment: Eyeliner That Matches Your Eye Shape

A standout part is the eyeliner guidance. Korean makeup tends to focus on shaping and definition while still looking natural, and that’s exactly where many people get stuck—especially if your eyeliner has to work with your lid shape or your natural eye line.

In the sessions, Riha Kim designs the eyeliner look to suit your eye shape and then guides you through how to recreate it. Based on what I’ve seen people say after the session, this is often the step that finally makes their makeup routine click. One person noted it completely changed how they approach eyeliner for their eyeshape, and another learned tricks to highlight and shape around the eyes in a way that felt easier to maintain at home.

Even if you consider yourself average at makeup, the value here is that you’re not guessing. You’re getting a design that fits your specific features and learning the logic behind it.

Choose Between a 1:1 Makeup Lesson and Full Make-Up

This experience includes options, and which one you pick should match your comfort level.

Personalized Makeup Lesson (1:1)

This is ideal if you’re a beginner or if makeup feels frustrating. You’ll learn:

• how to select suitable cosmetics and brushes
• how to apply them step by step
• and be guided to do your own makeup

By the end, you should walk away with a finished look plus the PDF containing information about tools and cosmetics. The goal is not just that your face looks good once—it’s that you leave able to repeat the routine.

Importantly, this lesson is not set up for people who already have makeup application skills locked in. If you already do your own routine confidently, you might find the time is better spent on something else.

Full Make-Up & Cosmetic Recommendations

If you want the look created for you, this option includes full makeup plus an email listing the cosmetics and tools used. That’s a great choice if your main goal is to understand which Korean products work for your face and then shop with confidence.

Both options support the same bigger theme: you get a personalized look plan, plus product direction so you don’t end up buying random items that don’t suit you.

What You Need to Do Before Your Session

The instructions are simple, and they matter.

Arrive with only your basic skincare completed. If you arrive already wearing makeup, it may limit what the service can provide. That’s because the session is built around analyzing and working from a clean base, plus applying makeup designed to complement your features rather than trying to work around existing product layers.

Also, think of the session as a “daily” Korean makeup experience, not a dramatic overhaul for a party or a Western-style glam look. And false eyelashes are not used, so your transformation will come from technique, shade choice, and design rather than heavy lash add-ons.

The PDF Guide: Why It’s More Than a Souvenir

After the session, you receive a PDF file with the information provided during the makeup experience. In practical terms, this turns your visit into something you can use after you leave Korea.

What the guide helps with:

• understanding which cosmetics were recommended for you
• learning about the tools involved (brushes and application basics)
• using a method you can follow again and again

The reviews point to something I think you’ll appreciate once you have it in hand: the PDF is meant to be understandable, not vague. One person described it as simple to follow and said their makeup gradually improved after using the guide every day. Another mentioned that the product list became useful for shopping in Korea and even for buying gifts.

That’s a real travel advantage. Makeup shopping can get confusing fast, especially when you’re standing in a store with ten versions of the same category. Having a focused list tied to your face makes the shopping mission way easier.

Timing, Session Flow, and What 40–60 Minutes Really Means

The duration is typically 40 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the start time you select. This is a quick session, so the schedule is usually built around efficient face analysis and application coaching.

Here’s what you should expect during your time:

1) quick face and feature analysis to shape the design

2) product matching guidance, including foundation shade direction

3) application with attention to details like eyeliner design

4) instruction if you’re in the 1:1 lesson format

5) end with your printable PDF materials

Because it’s private, you don’t have to wait for others, and the instructor can focus on your questions. But since it’s time-limited, arriving on schedule matters even more than with a longer tour. If you’re rushed when you arrive, you’ll feel it in the experience.

Price and Value: What $86 Buys You in Seoul

At $86 per person, this isn’t a cheap impulse beauty splurge. But it can be good value if you treat it like a “personal plan” rather than a one-time makeup touch-up.

You’re paying for:

• face-shape and proportion analysis
• a customized Korean makeup design
• foundation color recommendation
• skincare product guidance
• eyeliner design tailored to your eyes
• and a PDF that supports you after the session

If you’ve tried to solve makeup problems through trial and error, the time saved is part of the value. Plus, you’re getting coaching (especially in the 1:1 lesson format), which is different from watching a video where the advice can’t adjust to your actual face.

One practical benefit: people in reviews mention using the recommendations right away for photoshoots and shopping later. If you have a planned shoot or want your everyday routine to look more polished, the price can feel easier to justify.

Who This Experience Fits Best (and Who Should Skip It)

This session is best for you if:

• you want Korean daily makeup that looks natural
• you struggle with eyeliner and need a method for your eye shape
• you’re a beginner or feel like you don’t know how to choose products
• you want an actionable product list to shop in Korea

It may not be ideal if:

• you want a party, Western-style, or extra glam makeup look
• you want false eyelashes as part of the final result
• you already have strong makeup skills and don’t need beginner guidance

Also, if you want something that’s mostly about trendy makeup without the “why,” you might find the structured face-proportion planning takes a little more attention. But if you like learning technique, that structure is the point.

Should You Book Riha Kim’s Personalized Korean Makeup Session?

I think you should book it if you want a makeup routine you can actually repeat. The value comes from the personal plan—face proportion analysis, practical eyeliner design, and product recommendations you can use in real life. And the PDF is the kind of takeaway that keeps working after your trip ends.

Skip it if you’re mainly hunting for a dramatic event look or you’re expecting Western glam techniques. This is daily Korean makeup, built around natural enhancement and technique, not big transformation effects from false lashes.

If you’re visiting Korea soon and you plan to buy Korean cosmetics anyway, this is also a smart way to shop with direction. You’ll likely feel less overwhelmed and buy items that match your own needs instead of just buying what looks good on a shelf.

FAQ

How long does the Seoul personalized Korean makeup experience take?

It runs for 40 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the time slot you book.

How much does it cost?

The price is $86 per person.

Where does the experience meet?

It meets at RihaKim makeup on the first floor of Ssangyong Namsan Platinum Building. Enter through the CU entrance, take the elevator to the first floor, walk down the hallway to the end, and it’s the last office in the studio.

Is this a private session?

Yes. It’s listed as a private group experience, including a 1:1 personalized makeup lesson option.

What languages are offered?

The instructor provides services in English and Korean.

What style of makeup is included?

You’ll receive daily styled Korean makeup designed to naturally enhance your features. It does not include party makeup or Western-style makeup.

Does the makeup include false eyelashes?

No. False eyelashes are not used.

What do I receive after the session?

You get a PDF file containing the information from the session. For the full make-up & recommendations service, you also receive an email listing the cosmetics and tools used.

What should I do before I arrive?

Arrive with only basic skincare completed. If you arrive with makeup on, it may limit the services.

What’s the cancellation policy and payment option?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later (book without paying today).