Have you grown tired of the basic, cartoonish look of sims in The Sims 4?

The Sims 4 allows players to create characters known as sims. These sims can look any way you want them to. They can have a variety of skin colors, hair colors, and eye colors. While players are able to make their sims look any way they want, some players have found that the look of sims in The Sims 4 is too cartoonish, and they want to add some realism to the design of their sims. This is where custom content and mod creators have made their mark in making overlays, mods, and custom content for the skin of sims.

Below are 25 of the top skin overlays, mods, and custom content for The Sims 4.

25. Female Skin 18 Overlay

Give sims more dimension

To start off the list, we have the Female Skin 18 Overlay created by RemusSirion. This is an alpha custom content skin that adds some glow to your sims. While this overlay is for female sims only, it works with all skin colors including the blue and green that are available in Create-A-Sim.

This overlay helps bring realism to the way your sims look. Just don’t make your sims too realistic, like it’s just a game bro.
Female Skin 18 Overlay: https://www.thesimsresource.com/downloads/details/category/sims4-skinton...

24. Happy Lines Skin Overlay

Add lines to add age and realism

Have you ever wanted to add more dimension and flaws to your sim's face? If so, the Happy Lines Skin Overlay is perfect for you. This overlay does exactly what its name implies. It adds more lines to your sim’s face, specifically on the forehead, under the eyes, and around the nose.

This overlay helps to show more signs of aging in your sims. Anyone who has played The Sims knows it is difficult to distinguish between Teen, Young Adult, and Adult sims, but this overlay can help to calm the confusion. 
Happy Lines Skin Overlay: https://emmibouquet.tumblr.com/post/655855671096623104/happy-lines-i-cre...

23. Sophie Skin Overlay

Have a jawline sharper than a knife

If you want your sims to look more athletic or toned, the Sophie Skin overlay is the perfect skin overlay to add to your game. This skin overlay helps to develop your sims’ features, such as giving them sharper and more structured cheekbones and jawline. The coloration of the skin also has an airbrushed look.

I like this skin overlay because of the natural glow and feel it gives to the skin of sims. It also allows for the jawline to look naturally sharper than just dragging the jawline in Create-A-Sim.
Sophie Skin Overlay: https://www.patreon.com/posts/42081236

22. Pufferfish Skinblend

Use Maxis Match content to not completely change the look of your game

While other skin overlays can be considered alpha custom content, this skin blend falls more under the category of Maxis Match custom content, meaning it looks similar to the skin in the game. It helps to complement the skin that is already in the game to make it better without changing the way your sim looks completely.

This skin is available for both male and female sims, so both sims can look amazing in your game rather than just one having all of the good looks. This skin can also be used on sims aged from teen to elder.
Pufferfish Skinblend: https://missrubybird.tumblr.com/post/646841196133629952/hey-lovelies-her...

21. Mia Skin Overlay

Bring sims to life with gorgeous skins

When creating sims, you may notice that some details we have do not appear on the sims we create. You may be thinking that these details should be included in the game as The Sims franchise is based around creating characters that look somewhat like real people, and this is where skin overlays, such as the Mia Skin overlay, come into play.

In real life, a person’s skin is not always smooth, and there are lines under your eyes, probably from playing The Sims for hours on end, or just the cupid’s bow between your nose and your mouth. The Mia Skin overlay allows for your sims to have more textured skin and more of the lines that we see on our faces.
Mia Skin Overlay: https://www.thesimsresource.com/downloads/details/category/sims4-skinton...

20. Pearl Non-Default Skinblend

Smooth skin for younger-looking sims

The Pearl Non-Default Skinblend by Kumikya is another custom skin that makes your sims have very smooth skin. If you are looking for a more hyper-realistic skin for your sims, this is not the skin for you. While the skin is realistic looking, the smoothness takes away some of the realism, and it still allows for your sims to look like sims.

The texture of this skin and the smoothness it adds make it a good skin blend that can be added and used in any gameplay for The Sims 4. It keeps some features defined, so the skin is a good choice.
Pearl Non-Default SkinBlend: https://kumikya.tumblr.com/post/190151536721/pearl-non-default-skinblend...

19. Honey Skin Overlay

The texture and smoothness of real skin

The Honey Skin overlay created by MSQSIMS is gorgeous. The texture and smoothness of the skin are amazing, and it works well for all skin tones in the game. This skin is only meant to be used on female sims that age anywhere from teens to elders.

I think this skin looks gorgeous on sims who have darker skin tones, but this can be used on any sim. Looking at this skin overlay makes me want to rethink my skin routine.
Honey Skin Overlay: https://www.thesimsresource.com/members/MSQSIMS/downloads/details/catego...

18. Steven Skin

You cannot forget about the male sims

Most of the skins on this list are mainly meant for female sims, so here we have a skin overlay that is perfect for male sims. This overlay helps to give your male sims more of an ultra-realistic appearance. The texture, as well as added detail lines, help to make your male sims look more realistic than they would be using solely the skin provided in The Sims 4.

This skin comes with many swatches and includes custom thumbnails that help to make your male sims look as though they could walk out of your game and into the real world. This skin is solely for male sims and can be used for ages teens and up.
Steven Skin: https://www.patreon.com/posts/38814407

17. Tender Skin Overlay (Female)

Skins for all skin tones

The Tender Skin overlay is one that I love. The skin looks realistic, compliments the shadows of your sim’s skin, and allows for better customization through body sliders smooth out to help make your sims look the way you want them to. It adds more depth to the look of your skins while allowing for your sims to continue having smoother skin.

I like the Tender Skin Overlay because it portrays your sims as having softer and smoother skin than the skins available in The Sims 4.
Tender Skin Overlay (Female): https://www.thesimsresource.com/downloads/details/category/sims4-skinton...

16. Overlay Elder Female Skin N1

Elder sims are able to look their age

This skin overlay is different from many others that you will find. Most of the other skins for The Sims 4 are meant for younger sims and tend to smooth out certain features, this Elder Female Skin N1 overlay does the opposite. It highlights many of the features and details that bring beauty to older sims.

While this skin does help highlight aspects like wrinkles for older aged sims, the skin itself still gives off a smooth texture as well as small details to give more dimension to your sims skin.
Overlay Elder Female Skin N1: https://www.thesimsresource.com/downloads/details/category/sims4-skinton...

15. Papillon Default Skinblend

Compliment that natural glow

The Papillon Default Skinblend is a gorgeous skin blend that can be used on both male and female sims. This skin blend makes your sims’ skin look smooth while complimenting the natural glow of one’s skin. A great aspect of this skin blend is that it looks like the skin is already in the game, so your sims do not look out of place when compared to other sims in the game.

This skin blend is an absolute must-have. It gives life to your sims in more than just the casual being born and living aspect.

Papillon Default Skinblend: https://www.patreon.com/posts/papillon-default-25297266

14. LAZARUS II

Add better aging details to know the difference between different sims

The LAZARUS II default skin by akalukery is beautiful skin for both male and female sims. This skin can be used on sims that are aged from toddler to elder. I love the aging details this skin adds to sims that are adult and elder. While these details are subtle, they can help distinguish between the ages of sims and allow for the sims to look better and more realistic.
LAZARUS II: https://www.patreon.com/posts/31097930

13. Evermore Skinblend

It's the subtle details that make the skin beautiful

The Evermore Skinblend by PLUMBHEAD is gorgeous. The skin is great for all sims, and the texture is beautiful. While this skin blend does make your sims’ skin look smoother, it adds skin details, such as freckles, realistically and subtly.

Some skin details that are in The Sims 4 are very apparent and tend to draw your attention to them. While there are skin details in real-life that you can’t help but notice on some people, this is not the case for everyone, so this skin blend perfectly adds those details without making them the only thing you can focus on. 
Evermore Skinblend: https://www.patreon.com/posts/44950895

12. Johanna Skin Overlay

The details are to die for

This skin overlay by sims3melancholic gives your sims a more realistic skin and skin tone. The detail that this skin overlay provides tends to show the undertones which can be seen on real people’s skin and does not focus on making the skin look overly smooth or shiny.

This skin is available for all skin tones, so you do not have to create sims that all look the same and make sims that are different from the sims you normally see in the game. I love that this skin helps to show the beauty that actual people can have even when their skin is not super shiny or smooth.
Johanna Skin Overlay: https://www.patreon.com/posts/52670037

11. PS Hydra Skin Overlay

Hydration is important, even for sims

The Hydra Skin overlay by Pralinesims is a gorgeous skin overlay that helps your sims to look healthy and hydrated. The smoothness and clearness of the skin help to make your sims look realistic while also conveying they are healthy. The details of the skin also help to convey the life-likeness of the sims and allow for your sims to look like more than just characters in a game.
PS Hydra Skin Overlay: https://www.thesimsresource.com/downloads/details/category/sims4-skinton...

10. Lucia Skin

Give highlights to darker skin tones

The Lucia Skin by satanies is a beautiful skin for female sims that have a darker skin tone. The glow of the skin helps to highlight the darker skin tone, and details of the skin work to make your sims look beautiful.

This skin also helps to highlight specific parts of the body as well as give dimension to your sims, such as with the belly button. I love this skin because it can be difficult to find skin custom content that works for sims with darker skin tones, especially ones that add dimension to your sims.
Lucia Skin: https://www.thesimsresource.com/members/satanies2/downloads/details/cate...

9. Markus Skin Overlay HQ

Helps to show off those muscles you worked hard for

Here we have another skin overlay that is primarily meant for male sims, which can be hard to come by. The Markus Skin overlay is a high-quality skin that helps give dimension to your male sims as well as highlight features of their body and skin.

This skin is perfect for players who enjoy working on their fitness skill and showing off the muscles that come with it.
Markus Skin Overlay HQ: https://www.thesimsresource.com/downloads/details/category/sims4-skinton...

8. PS Powder Skin Overlay

Don't ignore skins' underlying tones

The Powder Skin overlay by Pralinesims is a gorgeous overlay that helps to give your sims more realistic skin tones. Some of the skin tones in The Sims 4 are not the most ideal if you are looking for realistic gameplay. The skins in-game will focus on one particular shade of the skin tone and ignore the underlying tones within the skin, and this is where this overlay shines (or doesn’t, the skins do not have to be shiny).

PS Powder Skin Overlay: https://www.thesimsresource.com/downloads/details/category/sims4-skinton...

7. Skin N6 Overlay

Some skins are considered alpha cc, like the one above, and others are considered Maxis Match

The Skin N6 overlay is an amazing alpha custom content skin overlay created by Northern Siberia Winds. The overlay is beautiful and primarily for female sims. The overlay plays with the idea of shiny skin but keeps the imperfections someone would have.

The skin looks very smooth, but you can see ridges as part of the skin to make the skin look more realistic than the basic smooth skin that is provided in The Sims 4. This skin is also perfect for both light-skinned and dark-skinned sims.

Skin N6 Overlay: https://www.patreon.com/posts/spring-came-48598595

6. Lunaria Skinblend

Sims can look realistic while still looking like they belong in the game

The Lunaria Skinblend by nesurii looks like skin that is already in The Sims 4. This skin also adds a highlight under your sims’ eyes that makes their faces come to life. This is a default skin, so you only need to get your sims ready with clothes and make-up, and they can hit the town.

Some skins and skin blends tend to do too much when it comes to how your sims look. The Lunaria skin blend does just enough to make your sims look amazing without going overboard.
Lunaria Skinblend: https://nesurii.tumblr.com/post/190606984166/lunaria-a-default-non-defau...

5. Matte Smooth Skin Overlay

Just because it's not shiny doesn't mean it's not good

The Matte Smooth Skin overlay by emmibouquet is a skin overlay for female sims aged teen, young adult, and adult. This overlay is not shiny, and it helps smooth the texture of your sim’s skin to give them a more youthful look.

One of the best aspects of this skin is that it makes your sims look more realistic, but it still keeps the cartoonish quality of The Sims 4. This is a must-have skin for your game.
Matte Smooth Skin Overlay: https://emmibouquet.tumblr.com/post/645906177521238016/matte-smooth-skin...

4. Mae Skin Overlay

Shadows help create dimension

The Mae skin overlay by Miiko is beautiful. It is super pretty skin that adds both smoothness and beautiful shadows to your sim’s skin. It also helps to outline and highlight your sim’s features.

This skin is for sims aged anywhere from teens to elders, and there are many options available with this skin in regards to opacity, creasing, and whether you want this skin on your sim’s whole body or just their face.
May Skin Overlay: https://www.patreon.com/posts/42879836

3. FIT Skin Overlay

Look great and feel great with beautiful skins

The FIT Skin overlay helps make your sims look incredible. It helps to make your sims look realistic and makes them look healthy, with naturally glowing skin. This skin helps add a lot of details to your sim’s body and face.

This skin is perfect for sims who are high in the fitness skill. This skin helps to show off the toned muscles your sims develop when working out.  
FIT Skin Overlay: https://www.thesimsresource.com/downloads/details/category/sims4-skinton...

2. Serena Skin Overlay

Custom skins can make your sims look angelic

Just from the image above you can tell that this skin overlay is just absolutely breathtaking. This skin gives your female sims that angelic look that makes them look innocent and pure, even if they are not.

This skin is also super customizable. You can choose from options involving the opacity of the overlay as well as if you want the full overlay, body-only swatches, or face-only swatches.
Serena Skin Overlay: https://www.patreon.com/posts/44736071

1. Sweet Scars Skin Detail

Imperfections are what make people beautiful

It is our imperfections that make us beautiful and human. These imperfections, however, are not completely available in The Sims 4. While there are some scars in the game, you can mainly only get them through buying certain game packs, which costs money.

On the other hand, you can use this skin detail that adds scars which you can put on your sims without paying a lot of money. The scars are very detailed and give your sims a sense of imperfect beauty.
Sweet Scars Skin Detail: https://www.thesimsresource.com/members/Sagittariah/downloads/details/ca...

You may also be interested in:

• The Best Sims 4 Mods That Make Things More Fun (2020)
• The Sims 4 Best Expansion Packs (And Worst)
• The Sims 4 Best Stuff Packs (2020 Review)
• The Sims 4 Best CC Sites [Top 10]
• The Sims 4 Careers: 10 Highest Paying Jobs 
• Sims 4 Best Way To Make Money [Top 5 Ways]
• The Sims 4 Best Aspirations [Top 10]
• [Top 10] Sims 4 Best Households
• [Top 7] Sims 4 Best Wedding Locations
• [Top 10] Sims 4 Best Apartments
• [Top 10] Sims 4 Best Neighborhoods
• [Top 25] Best Sims 4 Houses That Are Amazing
• [Top 10] Sims 4 Best Degrees
• [Top 10] Sims 4 Best CC Creators
• [Top 10] Sims 4 Best Pet Mods That Are Fun
• [Top 10] Sims 4 Best Autonomy Mods
• [Top 10] Sims 4 Best Mods for Appearance