The Healing Brush tool (nested below the Spot Healing Brush tool [J] in the Toolbar) makes retouching so easy. The secret to getting the most out of it, though, is to create a healing layer. If you do all the healing on the same layer, you’re not taking full advantage of the power of Photoshop. By healing on a new layer, you’ll be able to refine it using layer masks, or reverse the healing at any time. The secret is to make sure you choose Current & Below in the Sample drop-down menu in the Options Bar, or nothing will happen. 

This tip previously appeared in the Photoshop Tips column by Colin Smith, in the September, 2018 issue of Photoshop User magazine.