Got an answer to this on the HS2 forum from user Drowsy
The short version: opening up the material editor body and tweaking the TransBase setting seemed to work for me.
Drowsys advice: Play with "the TransBase, TransDynamic, TransOcclusion, TransRange and TransShadows settings. Tuning the first few of these down a bit, and/or Shadow up a bit, will reduce the SSS effect. If you overdo it you might end up creating some weirdly dark bodyparts, so tune it gradually and try out the result in different color/lighting until you get it to your liking. "
Full post for credit and completeness:
https://f95zone.to/threads/illusion-hs2-studio-neo-chara-maker-help-guides-thread.66252/post-9923553