[3 Ad Thursday] $1M+ AdSpend Across Skincare, Amazon FBA & AI Shopify Store Ads

Welcome to, or welcome back to this week’s VidTao 3 Ad Thursday, where each week we’ll be diving into the best Youtube ad spy tool - VidTao, to uncover 3 high-performing YouTube ads driving results!

This week we’ve got three high-performing YouTube ads for you to check out & model, including:

•  Kiehls Face Serum Ad by Kiehls ($130k+ AdSpend)...
•  Live Training on Building an Amazon FBA Business Ad ($200k+ AdSpend)...
•  AI-Powered Shopify Store Setup Service Ad ($680k AdSpend)...

Ready to check the ads out?

Let's dive right in and take a closer look at this week's YouTube ad standouts and discover what makes them so successful.

 Kiehls Face Serum Ad by Kiehls ($130k+ AdSpend)

Out first pick for this week is this face serum ad by the brand Kiehls we found inside VidTao:

This ad's estimated total ad spend is nearly $130k!

These are some of the elements this ad combines:

 1. Humor + Relatability as Hook

Opens by calling out the universal problem with sunscreen — “clogging your pores and looking a total freak.” The exaggerated insult makes it funny, while also nodding to a real barrier for buyers.

 2. Early Product Introduction + Clear Category Placement

Immediately introduces Better Screen UV Serum by Kiehl’s with SPF 50+. The naming and SPF strength establish it firmly in the skincare + sun protection category, so viewers instantly know what’s being sold.

 3. Ingredient Credibility (Functional Proof)

Mentions “collagen peptides” early, giving a scientific layer to balance out the humor. This adds perceived legitimacy and ties the product to skin health/anti-aging benefits.

 4. Playful, Aspirational Narration

The woman narrator roasts the guy while pitching the product — “confidently turn towards the light.” This sarcastic-yet-aspirational delivery keeps the energy high while slipping in the key product promise.

 5. Exaggerated Lifestyle ‘Side Effects’

Instead of dry claims, they list funny, exaggerated “benefits” — glowing so much people give you free stuff, skin so even exes come back. These memorable, shareable lines keep viewers engaged and differentiate the ad from generic skincare spots.

 6. Character Banter & Relatability

The skit-style dialogue (man applying sunscreen vs. woman narrating) adds personality. Her cutting commentary feels like a real couple’s playful roast, which makes the ad feel more authentic than scripted.

 7. Seamless Brand Integration

Closes with sponsor acknowledgment: “Don’t thank me, thank Kiehl’s for sponsoring this video.” It fits naturally into the banter, making the sponsorship transparent without breaking entertainment value.

Don’t forget to check out other ads by this advertiser as well using VidTao for some additional inspo:

 Live Training on Building an Amazon FBA Business Ad ($200k AdSpend)

Next up - an ad for a live training on building an Amazon FBA business we found inside VidTao:

This ad's estimated total ad spend is nearly $200k!

Check it out:

Let's break down some of the elements this ad combines:

 1. Opens With Big, Verified Numbers

Leads with “Amazon made $638 billion in 2024” — a massive credibility anchor. Then immediately breaks it down into percentages (70.1% ecommerce, 0.7% audiobooks, 63% from 3rd-party sellers). This layered specificity makes the opportunity feel data-backed and real.

 2. Authority & Relatability Through Presenter

The speaker (Ollie) frames himself as an insider — “helped some of the top 100 sellers in the UK” — which conveys credibility. He also emphasizes these sellers started as ordinary people with full-time jobs, making the path feel relatable.

 3. Reverse Qualifier Builds Trust

Says “If you’re here for get-rich-quick, don’t click this ad.” This tactic filters out skeptics and positions the opportunity as grounded, realistic, and different from scammy offers.

 4. De-Risks the Opportunity

Contrasts traditional entrepreneurship (“risky, expensive, requires skills, takes time”) with Amazon’s FBA system, where “Amazon does 80% of the work.” By highlighting fulfillment, shipping, customer service, and returns, it reduces perceived difficulty.

 5. Core Mechanism Explained Simply

The hook isn’t about inventing products — it’s about selling ones that are already viral with tons of reviews. This makes the opportunity feel plug-and-play, not creative or risky.

 6. Anchors Offer With Free Training

Shifts smoothly into the CTA: a free live masterclass that explains the “Bonfire Method.” Free = low barrier, live = exclusivity, and “method” = proven system.

 7. Uses Multiple Layers of Social Proof

Inserts testimonials with real numbers (“900 units ordered, sold them all,” “I replaced my salary,” “this is now my full-time job”). Diverse voices (parents, professionals, etc.) create audience identification.

Inside VidTao, you can check performance & testing volume, creatives, success rate and other relevant stats on this (or any other!) advertiser:

 AI-Powered Shopify Store Setup Service Ad ($680k AdSpend)

Last ad analysis for today - this ad for an AI-powered Shopify store setup service we found inside VidTao:

This ad's estimated total ad spend is nearly $680k!

Now, here are some of the elements this ad combines:

 1. Bold Hook With Challenge Framing

The ad opens with “I dare you to let me build you a completely free ecommerce store.” The “I dare you” framing adds urgency and curiosity while flipping the script on typical online offers.

 2. Compelling Value Proposition (Free + Preloaded)

Promises a full Shopify store, completely free, preloaded with 20 trending products validated by AI. This combines two powerful motivators: no cost and done-for-you convenience.

 3. Legitimacy Through Incentive Transparency

The speaker explains why it’s free: Shopify pays him a commission for each new store that stays active 90+ days. This honesty about incentives builds trust and makes the model feel more credible.

 4. Differentiation vs. Typical Gurus

Calls out the common “$1,000–$2,000 courses” and positions himself against that world — instead offering his courses for free because of Shopify’s sponsorship. This creates a strong us-vs-them appeal.

 5. Win-Win-Win Framing

Explains how everyone benefits:

• Shopify gets a new merchant.
• He earns a commission.
• The viewer gets a free store + training.

 6. Emphasis on Speed & Convenience

The ad paints a clear picture of immediate gratification: a fully designed, professional, optimized store (with banners, products, sales pages, descriptions) built in 20 minutes by AI. Weeks of work condensed into minutes.

 7. Multiple Credibility Signals

He name-drops being awarded as the “Most Innovative Commerce Coach” by Shopify, mentions Shopify follows his ads, and reinforces that Shopify itself “loves” this arrangement. These signals make the offer feel official and trustworthy.

 8. Strong, Repeated CTA

Throughout the video, the CTA is repeated in direct language: “Click here right now. I dare you to do it. I dare you to see it’s free.” This repetition paired with the bold challenge framing keeps pressure high to act immediately.

Finally, here’s what this advertiser’s landing page looks like:

And with that, we’re all done this week!

We hope this week’s selection of high-performing ads has sparked new ideas to test yourself!

Want more insights like these?

Stay tuned for next week’s VidTao 3 Ad Thursday, where we’ll continue breaking down winning strategies from the best YouTube ads in the game!

Have a great week!