YouTube is the world’s largest video hosting platform, with billions of views each month. In late 2019, the platform celebrated reaching 500 million monthly active users – a milestone that was reached just three years after it was first unveiled.

The service is so popular that it was recently revealed that TikTok, the popular video-sharing app that recently surpassed YouTube for daily average watch time, has over 500 million monthly active users. But how does YouTube stack up against some of history’s most iconic brands when it comes to staying relevant?

To find out, we examined the most-viewed videos on the platform, according to the YouTube Data API as of December 31, 2019. The list is composed of content published in the past year and measured in views.

The Evolution of Skincare

The year 2019 was a landmark one for dermatology as the world learned a lot about skincare and how to prevent certain ailments. YouTube was no exception, with numerous videos gaining in popularity as people sought safe and effective ways to look after their skin. Here are some of the most viewed videos on YouTube in 2019, as determined by the YouTube Data API.

#1 Most-Viewed Video

The most viewed video on YouTube in 2019 was “What Is Mature Skin?” by Jolie Pizzi, an anti-aging skincare expert and creator of The Jolie Pizzi Skin Care YouTube channel. The video has over 600 million views on the platform as of December 31, 2019.

“Mature skin” is a term used to classify skin that’s no longer affected by growing up, adolescence, and other factors, such as genetics. In this video, Jolie Pizzi explores the differences between mature and regular skin and shares expert tips on how to take care of it.

Jolie, who is Italian, had seen the term ‘mature skin’ used in a blog post by a Brazilian skincare expert named Natalia Camargo and decided to create a video explaining what it means. “I just want to help people understand what they are looking at. It’s not that I’m trying to sell them anything, it’s just that I want them to know the definitions and the differences,” she tells Tanya Byrne from MarketingCharts. “There are so many people out there trying to trick you into buying fake products, trying to up-sale this or that, and I don’t want that. I want people to be educated about skincare and what’s available to them.”

#2 Most-Viewed Video

The second most viewed video on YouTube is ‘The Evolution of Skincare’ by Elizabeth Taylor, an icon of beauty and fashion who became one of the first famous users of ‘natural beauty’ and ‘no makeup’ skincare. The video, which was posted in April 2019, has over 540 million views as of December 31, 2019.

In this video, the designer talks about how she changed her skincare routine over the years and what products she uses today. Taylor was known for not being a fan of traditional skincare and instead relying on good old-fashioned elbow grease to keep her skin in top shape. She credited the turning point in her life to the death of her daughter, Princess Diana in 1997, which made her reassess her priorities. Her favorite skincare products today are the POREFessional and Clarisonic Skin Cleansing System, which she uses in combination.

#3 Most-Viewed Video

The third most viewed video on YouTube is ‘Best Skincare Products for Dark Skin’ by Jayde Nicole, a YouTube creator and community manager who specializes in skincare. This short-form video, which is actually part of a series, was posted in April 2019 and has over 500 million views as of December 31, 2019. In this episode, Jayde Nicole explores the best skincare products specifically for people with dark skin.

As its name would suggest, ‘best skincare products for dark skin’ is focused on providing tips and tricks for users with darker complexions. In addition to skin care products, the video also discusses the importance of sunscreen and the harmful effects of the sun on skin. After watching its informative content, users are encouraged to try out products mentioned in the video.

The Most Influential Female Youtube Creator

In October 2019, Mabel Wotome, a beauty YouTuber, became the most-subscribed-to female creator on the platform. With over 15 million subscribers, she now sits proudly above creators such as Emily Rose, Jasmine Gucci, and Kayla Itsines. If you’re unfamiliar, Mabel Wotome is a 23-year-old aspiring artist who began her YouTube journey by posting videos of herself lip-syncing to popular songs. Her channel, Makeup by Mabel, currently has over 15 million subscribers and focuses on showing how different types of makeup can be used to enhance a woman’s features.

Mabel’s success isn’t a unique case on YouTube as many of the platform’s most influential creators began as YouTube celebrities in their own right. Since the platform’s community guidelines were relaxed in 2018, creators with large audiences can flourish, allowing for the rise of influential YouTube stars.

The Top Influencers According to Twitter

In case you’re curious, here are the top influencers as found on Twitter, according to the search platform. Many of these accounts also have large followings on YouTube:

  • Jackie Aiello
  • Livestream
  • Nina Agdal
  • Elle MacLeman
  • Aida Mollenkamp
  • Carolyne Roehm
  • Emily Rose
  • Jessie Vacher

#1 Most-Followed Youtube Creator

According to figures from TikTok, the most followed YouTuber is Jake Paul, whose channel has over 500 million views on the platform. However, his main competitor, Dennis Rodman has over 465 million views on the platform.

The most followed channel on TikTok is actually ‘Old Town Road,’ a re-creation of the iconic 1986 song, which is the most-played song of all-time. The song was originally performed by country music singer Ray Charles and has been used by countless artists since, including Dolly Parton, who recorded it in 2018.

Some fans have taken the song so seriously that they’ve created YouTube channels dedicated to reprising Charles’ classic and adding their own spin to it. The most-followed of these channels, Old Town Road Entertainment, has nearly 300 million views on the platform. Their most popular video shows them singing along to the song as it plays in the background.

#2 Most-Followed Youtube Creator

The second most followed YouTuber is Charlie D’Amelio, also known as Benny Blanco, whose channel has over 300 million views on the platform. His popularity comes from a combination of his unique charm and quick-witted humor (he’s also one of the few individuals to bring humor to the traditionally serious world of YouTube).

Though he began his YouTube journey in 2010, Charlie’s popularity exploded in 2019 when he started posting meme-ified videos that drew huge audiences. One of the most-viewed videos on his channel shows him and comedian James Charles recreating the 1980s television show, Good Times, with cameos from many famous faces including Snoop Dogg and Shaggy.

Along with Dennis and Jake, Charlie is one of the few YouTube creators whose popularity has not waned despite the pandemic. In fact, some of his videos, such as this comedic take on Tiger King featuring Snoop Dogg, have become even more popular since the beginning of the pandemic.

The Most Influential YouTuber According to Instagram

In Instagram’s latest Influencer Annual Awards, which was unveiled in October 2019, TikTok emerged as the platform with the most-subscribed-to creators. The list of top influencers is dominated by creators who have followed a Snapchat-like path to stardom.