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How to Retouch Skin in Photoshop
  • By Design Bundles
  • 6 Mins
  • Photoshop Tutorials

How to Retouch Skin in Photoshop

Portraits can be improved by editing your subject's skin to make it nice and smooth. It’s important to keep a balance so that details like eyes, hair, and skin texture are not lost. In this tutorial, you will learn how to retouch skin in Photoshop.
You will need a portrait that needs some retouching. We used a stock photo of womanfrom Design Bundles.
 

Step 1 - Remove larger imperfections


Open the image you want to retouch. If your subject has pimples and other minor skin blemishes you can remove them using the Spot Healing Brush.
Spot healing brush in Photoshop
Healed image in Photoshop


Step 2 - Duplicate the original layer


We will need to create a couple of duplicates of the subject in order to apply some of the effects and then blend them with the original. Duplicate your background layer twice (Command/Control + J).
Duplicate layers
For now, hide the top-most duplicate by clicking on the small eye icon to its left in the Layers panel.
Hide layer in Photoshop


Step 3 - Apply a Gaussian Blur filter


Next, we will use the Gaussian Blur Filter to start smoothing the skin. Select the first duplicate (the one in the middle), go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur.
Gaussian blur in Photoshop
Move your Radius lever until the skin seems even. We set it to 4.0 Pixels.
Gaussian blur settings in Photoshop

Step 4 - Blend layers together


Turn on your topmost duplicate layer and go to Image > Apply Image. Use your document as the Source and the first duplicate (the one you applied the gaussian blur filter to) as Layer.
Apply image in Photoshop
Use Subtract as Blending Mode, with a Scale of 2 and an Offset of 125.
Apply image settings in Photoshop
Then, change the Blending Mode of the layer to Linear Light.
Linear light in Photoshop


Step 5 - Select the portions of skin to smooth out 


We are going to smooth the portions of the face that need it. Click on the topmost duplicate layer, then use the Lasso tool (L) and change Feather to 30 px. Make a selection of the forehead area, trying not to be too close to the eyebrows and hairline.
Lasso tool in Photoshop
Go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur and this time use a very high Radius value. We used 10 Pixels. The idea is to get rid of as many imperfections as possible.
Gaussian blur in Photoshop
Do the same with the other areas of the face you want to retouch like the cheeks, chin, and eyelids. To apply the Gaussian Blur with the same values, go to the Filter menu, the last applied filter should be on top.
Repeat last filter in Photoshop
If you want to get a better view, you can hide and unhide the selection by clicking the H key. Remember to Deselect (Command/Control + D) after you are finished with an area.
Blured image in Photoshop


Step 6 - Fix other areas with the Clone Stamp


To fix other areas, like the nose, use the Clone Stamp tool (S). Hold the Alt/Option key and click on top of the area you want to use as Source. Then, use a medium brush with a lower Opacity (around 30%) and choose Current Layer as the Sample to cover the spots that need it.
Clone stamp tool in Photoshop
If you want to see the difference, you can turn your layers off and on.
Retouched image
This is how our subject looks like before and after the retouching.
Retouch skin in Photoshop
You may also be interested in our tutorials on how to change hair color in Photoshop, and how to mask a transparent object in Photoshop.

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