The 10 Best TikToks of the Year

“Oh, I just saw that on TikTok,” is a phrase that leaves my, my friends’, and my colleague’s mouths more frequently than I’d like to admit. Although almost everyone is on the platform these days, the best part about TikTok is that the content you’re served on your For You Page (or FYP) is completely different from what the person sitting next to you sees on theirs. While my interests change almost as often as the seasons, TikTok somehow always knows that I’ll never get sick of seeing clips from a Harry Styles concert at every possible angle, and that “Girl Dinners” are a constant in my humble abode.

“TikTok Wrapped” is not a thing just yet (something I’m personally thankful for), but the platform does provide data about overall users’ most-watched videos of the year, spanning the comedy, fashion, beauty, and sports spaces (to name just a few). From everyday life hacks to oversized kittens and inventive food prep, these were the top 10 TikToks of the year:

1. A simple and stunning makeup routine

I’m happy to know that I’m not the only one who can spend hours watching creators apply a flawless face of makeup. The most-watched TikTok of 2023—garnering almost 40 million likes—was from TikTok user Nyadollie Deng (@dollievision); as “Just The Two of Us” by Bill Withers plays in the background, Deng does a makeup tutorial featuring an on-trend pop of “Barbie” pink.

2. An Iron Man DIY worthy of its own world premiere

Marvel fans, this one’s for you. TikTok user @justinflom took a sticky situation and turned it into a masterpiece. As they say, one man’s trash is another man’s (superhero-themed) treasure.

3. The biggest kitten we’ve ever seen

You never know what you’ll come across on TikTok, and it seems like just about everyone who saw this video of a nine-month-old Maine Coon kitten was dumbfounded. The comment section says it all.

4. Selena Gomez being relatable

There’s something extremely satisfying about celebrities doing normal-people things. Here, Selena Gomez shows TikTok that she’s just like us as she takes her followers through a very sleepy but necessary skincare routine before boarding a 6 a.m. flight.

5. When you sound this good, the world (or a parking garage) is your stage

2023 was the year of singing in parking garages—that’s what it seemed like on my For You Page, anyway—and we might have @chrishoffish to thank for making the trend so popular.

6. Good, old-fashioned food ASMR

There’s an art to creating food content that I’ve yet to master, so I’m grateful for creators like @thezachchoi who have perfected the craft. If you find yourself watching this video on repeat, I don’t blame you. The pacing of ASMR videos is so important, and Zach absolutely nailed it.

7. Tiny pooch, big complaints

The only thing better than a puppy is a puppy with a personality. This french bulldog won the hearts of millions, netting TikTok user @kaaaathhhhy more than 200 million views on her video.

8. Onion-cutting goals

This video has been living rent-free in my head since the beginning of the year. I’m proud to say that I saw this within the first few weeks that it went live on TikTok, but I still don’t know what’s funnier: the onion-cutting “shield” creator Kristy Scott (@kristy.sarah) put together, or her husband’s infectious laugh.

9. A sweet reminder

A catchy song with a meaningful message—what more could you ask for when scrolling on TikTok? The dancing nugget is an added bonus.

10. Even professionals have off days

Creator Brett Wulc (@bwpottery) is known for his mesmerizing pottery videos, but it was this compilation of pottery fails that really caught everyone’s attention. Who knew scraps of clay could be so aesthetically pleasing?