Christina Choi Cosmetics — Local services in San Francisco

I'm a transgender woman, making the transition in my forties. Having lived my adolescence—and the first half of my life—as a male, my knowledge of aesthetics and cosmetics was superficial at best, and often completely wrong. While I had no problem identifying looks that I liked, attempts at recreating them usually failed, and I knew that it was likely due to a big gap in my basic knowledge. In my search for help with basic skills, I was introduced to Christina. From our very first correspondence, I knew that I was in the hands of a true professional.

When I arrived at Christina's bright and cheery Union Square studio, I was greeted with a warm smile, a lovely view of the city, and an array of delicious treats. I explained to her that I was really looking to learn the basics, and that I wanted to leave with an everyday, natural look—something I could wear to the office, and modify for the evening—which would emphasize the features of my face that I really liked, and maybe reveal some I didn't know I had. And crucially, something that I knew I could recreate. She took it all in, and we got to work.

Christina's approach is collaborative and and communicative. As we worked, she explained each product, process and tool—its purpose, how it works, and how essential it is. She demonstrated each technique, and then observed and guided me as I reproduced her work. Of course, I was full of questions. Christina not only cheerily answered everything, she took clear delight in seeing my progression. Throughout our session, Christina shot multiple videos of me performing applications under her guidance. I refer back to these frequently, not just for a refresher, but also to re-experience her encouragement.

Together, Christina and I developed a look that brought out the true me, one that's been indispensable in guiding the rest of my aesthetic. I left Christina's studio with a level of confidence I've rarely felt, and for that I'll be forever grateful. There are few greater gifts than a great teacher, and a great teacher delights in her students' illumination. Christina's joy in helping me was contagious, and is reflected in the smile I give myself in the...

I went to Christina for my bridal makeup & trial and had a wonderful time working with her. she's totally changed my experiences working with a professional MUA and I'll be going back for her class.

I was originally expecting to do my own bridal makeup as I've had experiences in the past working with MUAs (as a bridesmaid) that I didn't want again. I'd gotten out of those sessions changing my makeup afterwards, feeling like it was an expensive way to learn the artist did not have much experience with faces/eyes like mine - most of the time they'd try a pretty style that works well on other faces and features, but just wouldn't work well for me and my eye shape. I enjoy and use makeup often, so I've been comfortable doing it myself for other events since.

This time, I wanted to reduce the stress and have some relaxation for my wedding and being in the Bay Area, I figured I could find a MUA capable of helping me. I was comfortable doing it for my wedding, if needed/I didn't find someone with the characteristics I was looking for. I searched for someone like Christina who would and could work with Asian features like mine and compliment them with makeup, took a chance, and I'm very happy I did.

Christina was professional and reached back out to me quickly and helped me coordinate time with her for the trial and wedding on relatively short notice. I was lucky my ceremony was on Wednesday, so more availability.

I've had the same makeup look I've done for over the last decade, but she tried and taught me some new looks I really liked on myself and wore for my wedding.

I'm planning on a larger destination reception next year, and since I won't have Christina there with me, I'll be taking her class to prepare to do it myself then.

Highly recommend and thanks to Christina for truly making me feel seen and beautiful...

I recently had the pleasure of attending an in-person makeup session with the incredibly talented Christine Choi, and I must say, it exceeded all my expectations. Having initially taken a virtual lesson with her during COVID, I was impressed by her expertise and teaching style. However, the in-person session took my admiration to a whole new level.

From the moment I walked in, Christine's professionalism shone through. She greeted me warmly and immediately put me at ease, creating an environment that was conducive to learning and experimentation. Her patience was evident as she took the time to understand my preferences and skill level, ensuring that the session was tailored to my needs.

One of the highlights of the session was Christine's focus on teaching me how to do makeup specifically for single eyelids. This is a technique that requires precision and understanding of individual eye shapes, and Christine executed it flawlessly. Her step-by-step guidance and personalized tips were invaluable, and I left the session feeling confident and equipped with new skills.

What sets Christine apart is not just her technical proficiency, but also her ability to connect with her students on a personal level. She genuinely cares about their progress and goes above and beyond to ensure their success. Her passion for makeup is infectious, and it's clear that she loves what she does.

In conclusion, I cannot recommend Christine Choi's in-person sessions highly enough. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced makeup enthusiast, you'll undoubtedly benefit from her expertise, professionalism, and genuine passion...