Lightroom edits are slider instructions, not pixels - and Adobe does not let any plugin paint on the photo inside Lightroom. That is why every serious skin tool that "works with Lightroom" uses the same built-in route: Edit In. Lightroom makes a copy with your edits, another app retouches it, and the copy comes back to your catalog. Skin Pro uses Photoshop for that step, so you get frequency separation, dodge & burn and tone evening in one brush - with your hand in control, not an AI.
Finish your Lightroom edit, select the photo and press Cmd+E (Mac) or Ctrl+E (Windows). That is Photo > Edit In > Edit in Adobe Photoshop.
Raw files go straight to Photoshop. For a JPG or TIFF, Lightroom asks first - pick the top option:
When Photoshop's Camera Raw is older than Lightroom's, you see a warning. Choose Render using Lightroom - the photo then opens looking exactly like it does in Lightroom. (To stop the warning for good, update Camera Raw in Photoshop under Help > Updates.)
In Photoshop open Plugins > RetouchLab Skin Pro, press Run Retouch and brush the skin. Lightroom usually sends 16-bit files; Skin Pro converts to 8-bit by itself, nothing to set.
Press Cmd+S / Ctrl+S. Photoshop shows TIFF Options - just press OK. The defaults keep Skin Pro's layers, so you can adjust the retouch later.
Close the photo in Photoshop. In Lightroom the retouched copy appears next to the original, ending in -Edit (for example IMG_8718-Edit.tif), stacked with it. To compare, select both in the Library and press C.
Same idea on a computer: select the photo, choose Photo > Edit in Photoshop, retouch with Skin Pro, save and close. The retouched file is added back to your Lightroom library.
Free for 3 days - the full plugin, with your own catalog.
FREE 3 DAY TRIAL →Not inside Lightroom - Lightroom does not let any plugin paint on the photo itself. Skin Pro runs in Photoshop, and Lightroom sends the photo there with Cmd/Ctrl+E. The retouched photo comes back into your Lightroom catalog automatically.
Yes. Adobe's Photography plan includes Lightroom, Lightroom Classic and Photoshop, so most Lightroom users already have it. The Lightroom-only plan does not include Photoshop.
Yes. For raw files Lightroom applies your edits to the copy it sends. For JPG or TIFF files choose 'Edit a Copy with Lightroom Adjustments'. The original file is never changed.
No. The round trip needs Photoshop on a Mac or Windows computer, because Photoshop on iPad does not run plugins.
Yes, on a computer: Photo > Edit in Photoshop. When you save in Photoshop, the retouched file is added back to your Lightroom library.
Yes. Save as TIFF or PSD with layers (the default). To reopen, select the -Edit copy, press Cmd/Ctrl+E and choose 'Edit Original' - Skin Pro's layers are still there.
Yes. Select them and press Cmd/Ctrl+E - each opens in Photoshop. Retouch, save and close each one; they all return to Lightroom.