Smoothing skin texture

Based on Photoshop User Tv episode 28

This can be used to smooth out any texture or small blemishes in portraits

1. copy the background layer ( Command J)

2. apply a gaussian blur to the top layer

3. create a layer mask

4. make sure the foreground color is black and use a brush to erase the blur around the eyes, mouth and any where else you choose ( in this photo, I only left the blur on the cheeks

** hold down option and click on the layer mask, this shows you where you have already used the brush tool

before

after