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How to Smooth Face in Photoshop Using Neural Filters

August 26, 2026

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Want to know how to smooth face in Photoshop without spending hours on retouching? This quick and effective method uses Adobe’s Neural Filters to deliver professional results in just a few clicks.

Photoshop keeps getting smarter, and the Skin Smoothing filter inside Neural Filters is proof of that. Whether you’re editing portraits for clients or touching up personal photos, this tool cuts down your editing time dramatically.

How to Smooth Face in Photoshop: The Fast Way

Here’s the approach that works best:

Step 1: Open your portrait image in Photoshop.

Step 2: Navigate to Filter > Neural Filters from the top menu.

Step 3: Find the Skin Smoothing filter in the panel. If it’s your first time using it, you’ll need to download it first—just click the download icon and wait a moment.

Step 4: Toggle the filter on and watch it instantly detect and smooth the facial skin. The AI does most of the heavy lifting automatically.

Step 5: Adjust the Blur and Smoothness sliders to dial in the perfect amount of retouching. Less is often more here—you want natural-looking skin, not plastic.

Step 6: For the Output option, choose New Layer. This keeps your original image untouched underneath, which is a lifesaver if you change your mind later.

Step 7: Click OK to apply the effect.

Manual Touch-Ups for Areas the Filter Misses

The Neural Filter focuses mainly on the face. For shoulders, neck, or other exposed skin, grab the Spot Healing Brush Tool from the toolbar.

Adjust your brush size using the square bracket keys ([ and ]) to match the area you’re working on. Brush over any remaining imperfections, and Photoshop will blend them seamlessly with the surrounding skin.

Before and After: Check Your Work

One of the best features of applying the filter to a new layer is that you can toggle the layer visibility on and off. This gives you an instant side-by-side comparison to make sure you haven’t overdone the smoothing.

Watch the Full Tutorial

For a step-by-step walkthrough of everything covered here—plus tips on adjusting brush sizes, downloading filters, and getting the best results—check out the complete video guide:

Watch the Photoshop Skin Smoothing Tutorial Here

The tutorial shows you exactly how to apply these techniques, with real-time adjustments you can follow along with.

Final Thoughts

Learning how to smooth face in Photoshop using Neural Filters is one of the smartest shortcuts you can add to your editing workflow. It combines AI speed with manual precision, giving you full control while saving tons of time. Combine it with the Spot Healing Brush for complete skin retouching, and you’ll have a professional system that works on any portrait.

by Graphician Art