If you're a Sims fanatic, you probably have folders upon folders of mods for your game taking up a lot of gigs on your computer. Aside from mods used to add more traits or aspirations, there are a lot of them you could be using to beautify The Sims 4.
Let's be honest: Sims don't always look as good as they could. That's why cosmetic mods are a blessing. There are many amazing CC creators out there making great mods such as clothing, hairstyles, and so much more to help Sims look more appealing. These are just some of the best ones.
Updated on May 26, 2023, by Jouanna Bondakji: The Sims 4 is still being updated and given packs that expand its limits. But no one knows what Simmers want more than their own community. Mods often go even further than official packs do for one reason or another. Even with all the new CAS cosmetics that updates offer, they can't really fundamentally change how Sims look. Modders, however, have long since mastered the art of making Sims look different. Whether you want their skin to be more realistic, add some cool details, or just have more choice in the hair category, cosmetic mods have got you covered.
14 Face Details
No Sim is complete without some much-needed details on their face. From scars to freckles to even full-on face masks that completely change the shading of the nose, eyes, and lips, there's so much to choose from to give every Sim an ultra-realistic look. No more waxy Maxis look!
Some of the best-looking freckles, for instance, are the Ellen Freckles N13 by Pralinesims. They not only look great, but also accommodate multiple different skintones. If you want something a little more lowkey, Subtle Freckles & Moles by wildlyminiaturesandwich gives you multiple options for both the face and body.
13 Facial Hair
There aren't that many good Maxis facial or body hairs for Sims, which is a pity. Facial hair can really make or break the look of a Sim, and the better it's made, the better it looks on a character. Thankfully, hundreds of creators have chipped in to provide some beautiful beards.
If you prefer your game's art style pretty close to the original Maxis one, Commander Facial hair by Xalder is absolutely stunning. They look Maxis Match and fit all the basic hair colors of the game. Otherwise, Beard N36 by Seleng is just as awesome while giving your Sims impressive breads in a more realistic style.
12 Nails
It's a miracle that Maxis hasn't worked on nails for its Sims more in recent years. With how much nails are trending right now, it would be a small but very welcome feature in the game to have more customization for them, including toenails. Again, custom content creators come to the rescue!
The Nail It! Set by Joliebean looks vibrant and comes with two different nail styles, as well as many different colors. You can even select whether you want a glossy or matte finish. For something a bit more quirky, Short Mismatched Nails by kissyck have an assortment of fun patterns to choose from, and there's even a long nails version if that's more your style.
11 World Lighting
The last thing you need when playing any game is struggling to see what's on your screen. When The Sims 4 first launched, you might have found yourself checking your screen configuration in confusion. In-game lighting had become dark and gloomy, and it had an extremely noticeable blue hue, especially at night.
Luckily, the No Blu mod by wrixles fixes a big part of that by getting rid of the weird blueness. Additionally, Astral Lights by BrntWaffles is a beautiful world lighting mod which doesn't just fix the blue, but takes it a step further and creates a wondrous sky to enjoy.
10 Eyes
Eyes are the most expressive feature for humans and Sims alike. Changing this can give Sims a more life-like quality, or even a more magical element when creating fantasy creature Sims. Default replacement changes all Sims' eyes in the game, but you can also opt for contacts that only change a single Sim's eyes.
Encore Eyes by dangerouslyfreejellyfish gives your Sims a pretty, starry-eyed look that make them stand out. And they can look even more unique with the Heterochromia Eyes Collection by Pralinesims, which give them two different eye colors.
9 Clutter
The very definition of clutter is purely cosmetic decor. Although these items aren't functional, they add a lot to the game. Clutter comes in all types, from plants to makeup, and even decorative food. Some creators make seasonal and holiday decor if you want to celebrate yearly events with your Sims.
Clutter can also be used to make the game feel more realistic. For example, the Laundry Decor Set by DaraSims has everything Sims could need to do the laundry. Or you and your Sims could just admire some wall art, like with Rosannep's Kitchen Prints mod.
8 Hair
If there's one thing in the whole Sims 4 game that needs custom content, it's the hairstyles. Many base game styles are boring or generic, and the hair colors are even drabber. CC creators greatly help with this by creating a vast array of different hairstyles and colors.
Hair created for female Sims has the most variety, with hair such as LeahLillith's Nelli Hair. But there are still plenty of styles for male Sims, like Anto's Blackout Hair. Hairstyle mods also give more natural hairstyle options for Black Sims, like kieran hair by greenllamas and RAEKWON by simstrouble.
7 Skins
If you care enough about your Sims looking good, downloading a replacement skin should be your top priority when starting a new game. Although skin detail and color has improved greatly over the past twenty years, there's still much improvement to be done. Skins, like eyes, come in Default and NonDefault replacements.
Cleavage Detail Overlay by JSSims is good if you're into meticulous detail. For generally more high definition skins, the Lazarus 2 Skin by akalurky has got you covered. And if you simply want a more polished version of the original base game skin, Luumia's Vanilla Skin can do that. It includes all ages and comes with many finer details for parts like hands and noses.
6 Skintones
There are many types of skintones in real life. Though The Sims 4's CAS allows you to customize a lot of things, it initially didn't have as much diversity in skintones as you'd expect. Black Simmers didn't find this acceptable and strove to make their voices heard. Their efforts bore fruit, because in 2020, a much broader range of skintones were released.
But even with the choices you have now, you might find that they look strange and unnatural. CC creators seem to agree, because they've made a lot of excellent replacements for your Sims. Luce Skin by ThisIsThem, for example, is much more realistic and pleasing to look at, and it comes with 30 swatches. Vitiligo is also an underrepresented skin type in media, but Marcus Skin by sims3melancholic looks beautiful and offers a few different vitiligo spots.
5 Sliders
In The Sims 4's launch trailer, the most amazing innovation was no doubt being able to grab and pull Sims' faces to perfection. However, one glaring detail that was missing was the ability to manipulate Sims' heights. Luckily, there are CC creators who have developed ways to bypass this.
Luumia's Height Slider lets you change not only your Sims' body height, but the height of their neck as well. As a bonus, you can also adjust the shape of your Sims' hips, which helps diversify their body types that much more.
4 Makeup
If there's one cosmetic mod that makes your Sims look better, it's custom makeup. The best thing about it is that you can be as wild or subtle as you want with it. Even makeup as simple as blush can change the features of a Sim without having to remake them.
Others like lipstick and eyeshadow can give a freshly polished look. Screaming Mustard's Glossy Lip Balm gives your Sims' lips a lovely touch of shine, and Katverse's Phoebe Eyeshadow creates a bold look. And if you're seeking something less reality-based, there are mods like the Cyborg Set RemusSirian.
3 Tattoos
Introduced in The Sims 3, tattoos were an artistic and expressive way to decorate your Sims. Continuing this popular addition to gameplay, there are countless designs to choose from, thanks to CC creators.
Just like with real tattoos, you can choose from a lot of tattoo designs in any style. From cute, quirky ones such as Razbie's Gamer Girl Tattoos to Bohemian, earthy ones like MaruChanBe's Mandala Butterfly Chest Tattoo, you can find a variety of designs to suit your taste. There are even ones that are hyperrealistic and acutely highly detailed, like Reevaly's Skull Tattoo 3.
2 Accessories
Variety is the spice of life, and just like in real life, accessories are a must download for The Sims 4 to add visual appeal. The base game offers very little in the way categories, only having generic jewelry, mundane style hats, and modest eyewear. Thankfully, CC creators have taken the opportunity to make stunning adornments, such as RedHeadSim's Luxury Jewelry Earrings.
Mods like it and Pralinesims' Nose Piercing DIY Set are prime examples of the sparkle and shine The Sims 4 was desperately needing. But accessories aren't restricted to just jewelry. You can find mods that help make your Sim look otherworldly and add a magical element, like Magnolia-C's Lucifer Wings.
1 Teeth
Unique styles of teeth were added in a free update back in early 2017, featuring an interesting but meager assortment of flaws. Braces were a highly welcome addition for story purposes, and just for the relatable aspect in general. Still, there weren't that many styles to choose from.
That's why CC creators have also made their own versions. Pyxiidis' Braceface Teeth Overlays work great with the default teeth, and they come in a bunch of different elastic colors. Another true to life teeth mod is Buck 3D Teeth by PickyPikachu, which lets you give your Sims something other than perfectly straight teeth for once. These kinds of mods help us celebrate our differences, rather than wishing to correct them.