essence launched in February 2002 as part of cosnova, a company that is still privately held by its founders, a married team named Christina Oster-Daum and Javier Gonzalez. Glossy reports that they started Catrice two years later, in 2004. cosnova's own 20 year release says essence began with just 49 products, and it also says the Lash Princess Mascara is sold around the world every 4 seconds, which is the company's figure, not mine.

I like essence for being straightforward. The essence silky blur concealer belongs to a Silky Blur range with a foundation and a primer, and the brand's European site describes the concealer and foundation as a blur duo that smooths your complexion, balances impurities and gives a natural matte finish without looking heavy. It calls the result a real-life filter. The concealer has medium coverage, a silky matte finish and a waterproof formula, and the listing mentions a slanted applicator for precise placement.

That makes it a good fit for oily or combination skin that wants a soft-focus finish. If your under eyes are dry, you will want a primer under it.

The first grid is eight essence face products, from concealer and powder to primers and a fixing spray. The second grid is eight liquid concealers I compared it with. My tip: tap the concealer on with a finger or damp sponge, wait a minute, then set only the center of the eye.

The Silky Blur Hydrating Longwear Concealer is the center of this grid. It blurs dark circles and imperfections with buildable medium coverage and a silky matte finish. The Silky Blur Translucent Loose Setting Powder is its partner, a lightweight translucent powder with a soft-focus matte finish that brightens and refines. Use a tiny amount, since a little goes a long way on the under eye.

For prep, essence has three primers that do different jobs. The Jelly Grip Undereye Primer Stick has hyaluronic acid and panthenol to hydrate and get under eyes ready for crease-free concealer, which makes it the one I would reach for if you have dry skin. Jelly Grip Hydrating Primer is a jelly that hydrates and grips makeup. Bouncy Plump Smoothing Primer is a water-based gel with a cooling watermelon scent for smooth, bouncy-looking skin.

The rest of the grid is flexible. Correct & Conceal Under Eye Brightening Concealer comes with four correcting shades, so it is the one to look at if you want to correct before you conceal. Foundation Stick is a creamy, blendable stick with a natural matte finish. Fix & Last 18H Long-Lasting Make-Up Fixing Spray is a waterproof spray that locks makeup for up to 18 hours.

What I would skip: stacking two primers and a matte concealer on dry skin. Choose the stick or jelly and keep the rest light.

If you like the blurring idea but want a different coverage or finish, start here. MAKEUP BY MARIO SurrealSkin Awakening Concealer is a medium-coverage liquid with caffeine and a natural finish. MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Skin Smooth & Blur has a hydrating complex with hyaluronic acid and snow mushroom, and a real-skin finish that the brand says lasts up to 24 hours. PATRICK TA Major Skin Soft Blur Brightening Concealer has sodium hyaluronate and vitamin E, with buildable medium coverage.

For full coverage, Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless is a natural matte with Powder Blur Airtech for up to 24 hours of creaseless wear, and Hourglass Vanish Airbrush is a weightless liquid with full, airbrushed coverage and waterproof wear. Prada Micro-Correcting Blurring Concealer sits between the two, with peptides, medium-buildable coverage and a radiant finish.

For something more like skincare, Tower 28 Beauty Swipe All-Over is a hydrating serum concealer that the brand says is safe for sensitive skin, with medium buildable coverage and 18 hour wear. Laura Mercier Real Flawless is a serum-infused concealer with a hydro-lipid matrix and up to 16 hours of wear, which is a comfortable choice for combination skin.

What I would skip: the full-coverage ones for daily errands if you dislike the feeling of makeup. Go for Tower 28 Beauty or Laura Mercier instead.

I think the essence silky blur concealer is a fair, simple pick if you want a matte, soft-focus under eye and do not need a big shade range or a long routine. Add the primer stick if your skin runs dry. If you outgrow it, the second grid shows what more coverage or more skincare looks like. Either way, use a thin layer and build, because blur works best when you can still see skin. If you want to keep browsing, I also put together Best Under Eye Concealer for Mature Skin and Hourglass Vanish Concealer Swatches and Creamy Picks.