The IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Dark Spots Concealer Makes Your Skin So Even You Can Skip Foundation

• Value: 18/20
• Wear: 19/20
• Ease of Use: 20/20
• Aesthetics: 20/20
• Longevity: 18/20
• TOTAL: 95/100

I’m the type of traveler who never, under any circumstances, checks a bag. Whether it’s a quick weekend getaway or a two-week trip overseas, I always take a carry on, which is why I carefully consider every single thing that I’m packing.

This means streamlining my skincare and makeup as much as possible since products tend to take up a lot of space (and there are TSA rules to comply with). One item that helps me with this task lately is IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Dark Spots Concealer + Serum.

The double-ended concealer comes with a doe-foot applicator on one side that doles out just the right amount of product; tap it directly over any areas you want to conceal or brighten. Then, simply flip the tube over to the other side, where there’s a built-in kabuki brush that you can use to blend everything into your skin.

I’d say it has a thinner, liquid consistency that’s great for blending and a medium level coverage that you can build up as needed. The finish is smooth and satin, bordering on a soft matte.

As you can see, the coverage is solid though not masklike, and the brightening effects are immediate. As for the brand’s claims that the formula actually improves your skin tone over time, I can’t really speak to that just yet. I do see that it has 2 percent niacinamide and some caffeine in it, which can both theoretically boost the brightness up a tad with continued use, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Anyway, my favorite thing about the IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Dark Spots Concealer + Serum is how efficient it is. I appreciate that it comes with a blending brush and the coverage and consistency is just enough for daily wear. I now bring the little tube with me everywhere because it’s easy to toss into your bag and use for touchups on the go.

At $30 a tube, it’s not the cheapest coverup but considering it can do the job of a concealer, foundation and makeup brush in one, I’d say it’s worth the price—and then some.

The PureWow100 is a scale our editors use to vet new products and services, so you know what’s worth the spend—and what’s total hype. Learn more about our process here.

Jenny Jin is PureWow’s Beauty Director (and resident skincare expert) who is currently based in Los Angeles. Since beginning her journalism career at Real Simple magazine, she has become a human encyclopedia of the latest beauty products, trends and ingredients over the last 10 years. Equally comfortable in front of the camera as she is behind a computer screen, she always aims to deliver information that's educational, entertaining and accessible to all. On that note, please subscribe to Youngish, her weekly beauty newsletter for millennials here or find her on Instagram (where she will happily reply to any DMs regarding nail polish, sunscreen and K-Pop sensation, BTS).

PureWow is the best friend you never had when it comes to finding the best, most useful lifestyle products online. Founded in 2010, our company’s editors and writers have spent more than a decade shopping online, digging through sales and putting our home goods, beauty finds, wellness picks and more through the wringer—all to help you determine which ones are actually worth your hard-earned cash. From our PureWow100 series, which sees each and every item we test being ranked on a 100-point scale of awesomeness, to the painstakingly curated lists our fashion, beauty, cooking, home and family editors create as vertical experts, you can trust that our recommendations include some of the greatest items you’ll find on the internet. Whether you're looking for travel-size hair dryers you can take on-the-go or women’s walking shoes that won’t hurt your feet, we’ve got you covered.