I have made the bold decision to finally get Sims 3 and I was wondering if installing CC for Sims 3 is the same as getting it for Sims 2 and 4? Just extract the package and plop it into a mods/download folder?
I hope to baby jesus I'm not doing this wrong

Yes it is! Good luck and I really hope you enjoy the game

If you get into difficulties, here is the Sims 3 CC wiki/info page

In Mods/Packages, if it's a file that is supposed to override something, then put it in overrides. But most files goes into Packages, even default mods. Some files are Sims3pack, then you just have to double click them and wait for the stupid launcher to install it

Well, sorta. Packages go in the Mods/packages folder, not downloads. Sim3Packs, which require installation via the Launcher, go in the Sims 3/Downloads folder. And to get you into a good habit to start, within your packages folder, you can place subfolders to group your content however you like to group your stuff, assuming you have a resource.cfg file in the mods folder (you can find one for subfolders floating around here, in the wiki on installing content, I believe).

And if you prefer to install items as packages only, which is quite reasonable, you can get the Multiextractor here on MTS to convert S3Ps to packages. However, not all items, such as kitchen cabinets should be so converted, as they will no linger function properly. And there are additional steps required for converting S3Ps for things like sims, houses, and worlds that require additional steps. Which is why I usually just cover my nose and install those with the Launcher. And once you have lots of packages to slow your game loading to a crawl, there are ways to merge all those packages into a few larger packages to improve loading.

Installing content is easy. Until you have to manage all that crap you downloaded.

Oh, and now that we have package files for TS2,TS3, and TS4, try to be sure you use only TS3 package files.

Edit: Pretty much as ZenGarden said. Except, instead of clicking on the S3P to install it, which takes freaking forever, especially if you have a bunch to do, just put them all in the Downloads folder, and open the Launcher when you don't mind washing the dishes after you click on Install after it launches.

I was able to get all my CC working, but where do I find CC skintones?! I'm utterly clueless

Try this link to skin tones on MS3B, http://mysims3blog.blogspot.com/sea...el/Skin%20Tones It reports having 330 entries. But to cut through the clutter, as there are a ton of blends in there, stuff by Ephemera, http://blog.sina.com.cn/ephemera69 Klavix, http://blog.sina.com.cn/klavix and S-Club (sorry, don't have alink on hand) are all excellent. There's also some stuff from Pralinesims over on TSR and on her website that are pretty nice http://pralinesims.blogspot.com/. So finding skins is more a matter of keeping your selections reasonable, as you can overstock on them in no time.

In addition to the links eskie provided, What I like to do is take a looksie at the Sims people put up for download, especially here, because each download must contain any links to custom items, so you you know exactly where to get that skin, hair, mustache, sexy elder underwear, or what have you. Navetsea makes some nice ones, too. http://navetsea.blogspot.com/p/the-...-skin-mods.html

This skin is pretty awesome too A Matter of Skin - Rock The Sims - Italy it's not default and has many shading options.