There’s a certain kind of glow that makes a photo feel instantly more beautiful. Not shiny. Not overexposed. Not filtered. Just soft, bright, healthy skin that looks like it’s catching the light in the prettiest way, like golden hour found you indoors.
If your edits have ever looked a little dull, a little flat, or a little too orange, you’re not alone. The good news is you don’t need perfect lighting or a brand-new camera to get radiant skin tones. You just need the right Lightroom adjustments in the right order.
If you want even more help with natural, flattering color, you may also love our guide on how to smooth skin in Lightroom. It pairs perfectly with this glow tutorial and helps you avoid orange, pink, or muddy skin tones.
And if you want one-click edits designed for beautiful skin, you can explore our Lightroom presets for Lightroom Mobile and Desktop.
In this guide, I’ll show you how to make skin glow in Lightroom using simple steps you can do on Lightroom Mobile or Desktop, whether you’re editing portraits, lifestyle photos, newborn sessions, or cozy indoor moments at home.
What “Glowy Skin” Actually Means in Lightroom
When skin looks glowy in a photo, it usually has a few things going on:
- The exposure is bright enough to feel soft and clean
- Highlights are controlled so nothing looks blown out
- Shadows are lifted just enough to feel airy
- Skin tones look warm and healthy, not orange and not pink
- Texture looks smooth but still real
- The overall photo feels light, flattering, and natural
Glow is not about making everything brighter. It’s about making the light feel gentle.
Best Lightroom Settings to Make Skin Glow
To make skin glow in Lightroom, start by raising exposure slightly, lowering highlights, and lifting shadows for a soft, bright base. Then use the tone curve to smooth contrast, increase orange luminance in HSL to brighten skin, and reduce texture and clarity slightly for a soft finish.
For the most natural glow, use masking to brighten and soften the face instead of applying glow settings to the entire photo. These steps work the same in Lightroom Mobile and Lightroom Desktop, with only minor menu differences.
Save this cheat sheet for your next editing session.
Quick settings list:
Exposure: +0.10 to +0.50
Highlights: -10 to -40
Shadows: +10 to +35
Orange Saturation: -5 to -20
Orange Luminance: +5 to +25
Texture: -5 to -20
Clarity: -5 to -15
Start With the Right Base (Because Lighting Still Matters)
Lightroom can do a lot, but it works best when you start with a clean foundation.
If you’re taking photos specifically for soft, glowy edits, here are a few quick tips:
- Try to use window light when possible
- Avoid harsh overhead lights, especially warm yellow bulbs
- If your photo is slightly underexposed, that’s okay
- If your highlights are blown out, glow becomes harder to control
A good rule: soft light plus preserved highlights equals easy glow.
Step 1: Adjust Exposure for Soft, Bright Skin
The fastest way to create glow is to start with the overall brightness of your image.
In Lightroom, go to the Light panel and start here:
- Exposure: +0.10 to +0.50
- Highlights: -10 to -40
- Shadows: +10 to +35
- Whites: +5 to +25
- Blacks: -5 to -20
The goal is a photo that feels brighter and cleaner, but still has depth.
Tip: Raise exposure first, then pull highlights down if needed. That’s how you get brightness without losing detail.
Step 2: Use the Tone Curve (The Real Secret to Glow)
If I could only teach one Lightroom tool for glowy edits, it would be the Tone Curve.
Tone Curve is what gives skin that soft, creamy light, especially indoors.
A Simple “Glow Curve” Looks Like This
- Lift the shadows slightly (left side of the curve)
- Lift the midtones slightly (middle of the curve)
- Pull the highlights down just a touch if the photo looks harsh
This creates that gentle softness where light feels smooth instead of sharp.
If you want an extra creamy finish, you can also lift the very bottom black point slightly so your shadows aren’t too heavy.
Step 3: Warm Skin Without Turning It Orange
Warm skin tones are beautiful until they start looking too orange.
To warm your photo naturally, go to the Color panel:
- Increase Temp slightly
- Adjust Tint if needed
Here’s a quick guide:
- If skin looks too yellow, cool the temp down slightly
- If skin looks too pink, move tint slightly toward green
- If skin looks too green or gray, move tint slightly toward magenta
Quick check: Whites should still look clean, not yellow. Skin should look warm, not orange.
Step 4: Fix Skin Tones With HSL (Color Mix)
This is where your edit starts looking professional.
Most skin tones live in the Orange channel, so this is the easiest place to make skin glow without over-editing.
Go to Color Mix (HSL) and start with:
Orange (Skin)
- Hue: tiny adjustments (just a few points)
- Saturation: -5 to -20
- Luminance: +5 to +25
Increasing orange luminance is one of the best glow tricks because it brightens skin without blowing out the whole photo.
Red (Cheeks and Lips)
- Saturation: -5 to -15
- Luminance: +0 to +10
Yellow (Indoor Warmth Control)
If your photo feels too yellow, reduce yellow saturation:
- Yellow Saturation: -5 to -25
This is especially helpful for indoor photos with warm lighting.
Step 5: Add Softness With Texture and Clarity (Gently)
Now that your light and color look right, it’s time to soften the skin a little.
Use these ranges as a starting point:
- Texture: -5 to -20
- Clarity: -5 to -15
- Dehaze: 0 (or slightly negative if the photo looks harsh)
Less is more here. You want skin to look smooth and glowy, not blurred.
Tip: If your photo starts looking foggy, you went too far.
Step 6: The Glow Trick That Changes Everything (Masking)
Masking is what makes glow look intentional. Instead of changing the whole photo, you can brighten and soften only the skin.
Mask 1: Select Subject (or Select Person)
Apply a light touch:
- Exposure: +0.10 to +0.30
- Shadows: +5 to +15
- Texture: -10
- Clarity: -5
- Temp: +2 (optional)
This gives your subject that gentle brightness that feels like soft natural light.
Mask 2: Add a Soft Glow (Radial Gradient)
Add a Radial Gradient over the cheek area or forehead and use:
- Exposure: +0.10
- Highlights: +5
- Clarity: -10
Set feather high so the glow blends naturally.
Keep it subtle. If you notice the mask instantly, it’s too strong.
Step 7: Make Indoor Skin Glow (Without Yellow Photos)
Indoor lighting can be the hardest to edit because it adds warmth in a way that doesn’t always look flattering.
Here’s the quick indoor glow fix:
- Lower Yellow Saturation in HSL
- Reduce Orange Saturation slightly if skin looks too warm
- Increase Orange Luminance to brighten skin naturally
- Adjust Tint if skin looks too pink or too green
If your indoor photos look muddy, lifting shadows slightly and using Tone Curve softness usually fixes it fast.
Step 8: Keep Glow Consistent Across Photos (Batch Edit)
Once you get one photo perfect, don’t start over for every image.
Lightroom Desktop
Use Sync to apply your settings to the full set, then adjust exposure per photo.
Lightroom Mobile
Use Copy Settings and Paste Settings, then fine-tune each photo slightly.
Your secret to consistency is simple: sync the look, then adjust exposure and white balance per image.
Best Presets for Glowy Skin Tones
If you love the idea of glow but want it faster, presets can give you that soft, flattering base in one click, then you just tweak exposure and white balance.
Here are a few of our favorite options for glowing skin tones:
- True Color — clean, natural, and perfect for everyday photos
- Light & Airy — bright, soft, and dreamy with creamy whites
- Vanilla Latte — warm, creamy indoor edits for newborn and home photos
- Muted Gold — golden warmth with a rich, glowy finish
- Soft Kodak Portra 400 — pastel film tones with soft romantic light
- Dreamy B&W — soft dreamy black and white tones
Each one gives you a slightly different version of glow, depending on your style.
Quick Glow Checklist (Save This)
If you want a simple glow formula you can repeat every time, here it is:
- Brighten exposure gently
- Pull highlights down
- Lift shadows slightly
- Add softness with Tone Curve
- Warm skin with white balance
- Boost orange luminance
- Lower orange saturation if needed
- Reduce texture and clarity lightly
- Mask the face for a soft glow finish
Glow is always a collection of small steps, not one dramatic change.
Glowing Skin FAQs
How do I make skin glow in Lightroom Mobile?
Use the Light panel to brighten exposure, soften highlights, and lift shadows. Then use Color Mix (HSL) to increase orange luminance and lower orange saturation slightly. Finish with a soft mask on the face for the prettiest glow.
How do I make skin glow without looking oily?
Avoid pushing highlights too high and keep clarity low. Glow should come from soft light and gentle brightness, not from shiny hotspots.
Why does my skin look orange after editing?
This usually happens when temperature is too warm or orange saturation is too high. Reduce orange saturation, increase orange luminance, and adjust tint if needed.
What is the best setting for glowing skin?
A soft tone curve plus orange luminance plus gentle masking is one of the best combinations for natural glow.
How do I smooth skin but keep it natural?
Lower texture slightly, avoid heavy clarity changes, and use masking so you’re only softening the skin, not the entire photo.
The Takeaway
Glowy skin edits don’t have to be complicated. It’s not about making your photo look edited. It’s about making it feel like the light was kinder than it actually was.
A few soft adjustments, a little tone curve magic, and the right skin tone balance can turn even a simple indoor photo into something that looks warm, clean, and beautifully alive.
If you want a one-click base for glowy skin tones, explore our Lightroom preset collections designed for real life lighting, because the best edits should feel effortless. If you’re not sure which version to use, read our guide on Lightroom Mobile vs Lightroom Desktop presets to learn which option is best for your workflow.
