How to Retouch Skin in Photoshop

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Retouching skin that retains the skin’s texture while it removes skin blotches & imperfections is easily done through Adobe Photoshop.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”10972″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Open a photo of a face that you would like to retouch.

The 1^st step is to make 2 copies of the layer by pressing Ctrl + J twice. Here I will rename the top layer as Texture & the bottom layer as Blur. You can use your own naming.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”10973″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Deselect the top layer while and make sure the Blur Layer is selected.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”10974″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Then go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur

Drag the slider until it blurs just enough it hides the pores and blotchiness and then click Ok.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”10975″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Now make the top layer visible & active.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”10976″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Go to Image > Apply Image

Select the Layer: Blur

                Blending: Subtract

                Scale: 2

                Offset: 128

Then click OK.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”10977″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Change the Blend Mode to Linear Light.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”10978″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]At this point, your photo will look exactly the same. Make the middle layer active.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”10979″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Now zoom into the area where you would like to retouch

Open the lasso tool and make a selection of the area[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”10980″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Will feather it so its edges will be soft. For me, the best way to preview it is to click the Refine Edge button.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”10981″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Or go to Select > Refine Edge (Ctrl+Alt+R).

Drag the Feather slider to the right until till the inside of the selection is blurred approx. equal to the size in the photo below. The actual pixel amount on your maybe very different based on the selection area size and photo resolution. Remember your pixel amount & click Cancel.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”10982″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]At the top in the Feather field, type in that amount.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”10983″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Deselect it by pressing Ctrl + D.

To apply the feathering, apply another selection in the area and go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur.

Slide the blur radius to an amount that makes the blotchiness disappear. The texture remains because it’s on a different layer.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”10984″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Click Ok & deselect it by pressing Ctrl + D. if you see some imperfections in the texture, we’ll take care of them in a few minutes. Right now we’re just concerned about removing the blotchiness & overall inconsistencies.

Draw another selection around the other parts like the cheek and make sure you don’t get too close to the eyes, hair, lips, & neck.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”10985″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Let’s retouch the neck of the subject.

Bring the neck into view. Since the neck has problems mostly with skin blotchiness, we’ll keep the blur layer active & open the lasso tool.

I’ll select inside her neck & shoulder blades, avoid getting too close to her clothing, chin & hair. I’ll repeat my last filter which was Gaussian Blur & deselect it.

To see the before & after, Alt + Click on the eyeball icon next to the bottom layer, to hide all the other layers.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”10986″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row]