Neither TS2 or TS3 sims looked great without CC, but I'll always prefer TS2 sims to the weird squishy TS3 sims. IMO, no amount of CC can make TS3 sims look good, whereas for TS2 I've downloaded some custom skin tones (not the weird "realistic" shiny ones, they're Maxis Match but just in more shades) and a bunch of
custom face templates. Combine with some Maxis-match CC eyes and you suddenly have the power to make sims that all look different without having to use those weird huge knobbly noses or massive Goopy lips.