Head swap blending help

[EmmaS]

I'm trying to perform a face swap. I've managed to match the skin tone fairly well using Curves + LUT + HSL adjustments (still far from perfect), but I'm having a hard time getting the edges of the face to blend, partially due to skin tone differences and partially due to a difference in size between the faces. I've try to match colors using Levels, Curves, and HSL, but can't get them similar enough to create a smooth transition. If I make the face darker, it looks too dark and dramatic against the background skin, but clearly the face is too bright and reflective as-is.

Anyone with more familiarity with Affinity's tools and/or a more experienced eye have suggestions? I'm still mostly a beginner, so feel free to explain like I'm 5!

Base, face, and work in progress photos are attached. (Photos are all similar resolution, but the two with the bonnet were pulled directly from the version I'm working with where they've been scaled down.)

 

 

 

Edited December 9, 2020 by EmmaS
updated with better photo and more info

[firstdefence]

What about doing a complete face replacement, this would save having to mess around with skin tones.

Can’t upload the file, getting the dreaded -200 error on file upload.

Wetransfer to the rescue: https://we.tl/t-GUMybje5Ns

[EmmaS]

I think that might be my best option. Your mockup looks much better than the face swap I did! Thanks for the input. :)