Essie • Eternal Optimist #676 • Polishes

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fkl201041 on 5/30/2013 5:33:00 AM more reviews by fkl201041

Age: 25-29   Skin: Very Oily, Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

It's a nice nude that is bright enough not to look like a grandma. Still, it's not something unique if that's what you're after. I am not very much into Nudes so it's not something I use very often. However the formula is Great, almost opaque in one coat and it makes my hands look feminine.

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schoolgirl101 on 4/27/2013 6:39:00 PM more reviews by schoolgirl101

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Black    

The perfect neutral pink shade for everyday wear. Recently, I found myself reaching for this over my other nail polish gems. The opacity of this polish is quite nice and requires two coats for perfect opacity. It had about a 1 to reaching two week wear time with a top coat, which I think is amazing. Essie is expensive but this polish is worth it if you don't have anything like this color in your collection.

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FromNJ23 on 4/2/2013 9:26:00 PM more reviews by FromNJ23

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Hazel    

This was my first essie purchase ever. Let me tell you, when you are about to spend 8 dollars on a nail polish for the first time you take your sweet time looking for the perfect one. It took me about 45 minutes going back and forth between different essie colors at ULTA but for some reason I kept going back to this one. I brought it home and immediately hated it because it was too pink. Then I really loved it because on some lights it looked nude. So the odor basically changes depending on the light. I had a love hate relationship with it for a while, until it became my all time favorite. Now I own about 7 different nail polishes with the same shade as this one.

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auricblaze4 on 3/30/2013 4:09:00 PM more reviews by auricblaze4

Age: 19-24   Skin: Dry, Medium Brown, Warm   Hair: Black, Straight   Eyes: Brown    

I normally can't justify spending $8 on a nail polish (they all get goopy and thick in the end) but I had to get this. It's a delicate, warm pink against my NC45 (dark tan, warm undertones, East Indian) skin, which is a nice break from all the crazy colors I love.

I find that the older I get the more professional (read: not as loud) colors I need to wear for certain occasions. This is perfect for any skin tone in my opinion. It's very ladylike and beautiful.

I've had good luck with Essie polishes so far: smooth to apply, and shiny when dried. I like that Eternal Optimist is opaque and creamy (no shimmer). I'm not a fan of sheer polishes at all.

I'd definitely buy this again.

EDIT-- I knocked off two lippies because after my third or so use this became a HUGE pain to work with! Streaky and kinda globby at the same time. I expect more for 8 bucks. This is why I don't like to spend much money on nail polish--they all seem to get annoying eventually. Sadly, this is a beautiful color, though. Be ready to work very patiently with this; it's not one of my skills! ;)

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queenofga on 2/8/2013 1:13:00 AM more reviews by queenofga

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Dark, Warm   Hair: Brown, Kinky, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

Just found my new go-to. Great and super-professional. I'm an NW45 and it's a great neutral for me. Opaque pink, but not over the top. I admit it tends to go on streaky, but that clears up by the second coat and certainly by the 3rd (usually only takes two though). Top it off with Essie's quick-dry top coat (good to go!) and you're set. Wears pretty well. Can get it to last nearly a full week which isn't bad considering I'm in the corporate world, do a ton of typing, and lots of diaper changes, washing bottles and bathtime on account of my 6 mo old daughter. Overall, LOVE!

**Also wanted to add that it looks great on toes too!**

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Beautylush on 1/19/2013 11:12:00 AM more reviews by Beautylush

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Olive, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Curly   Eyes: Green    

I love Essie nail polishes and Eternal Optimist did not disappoint. The colour is a pretty neutral warm pink / beige which is perfect for a neutral, polished look but colourful enough not to wash out your hands.
The consistency is not too thick or thin. This with the wide brush make the application process really easy and smooth. I use the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri top coat and get long lasting and super shiny nails in minutes. Love it!

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*TOP REVIEWER* dizzielittlerascal on 1/3/2013 10:46:00 AM more reviews by dizzielittlerascal

Age: 36-43   Skin: Dry, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

Stunning neutral colour. Goes on smoothly in only two coats. Just the perfect everyday colour. I bought this just recently, and has a new wider brush which makes application easier too. Beautiful.

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MariahB on 1/3/2013 12:19:00 AM more reviews by MariahB

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Green    

Essie has got to be my absolute favourite brand. I strongly believe that Essie is far better quality than OPI. I find that my OPI polishes change in consistency and they don't last nearly as long as my Essie polishes!

I love love love Eternal Optimist! It is a chic shade and it is a really classy shade that goes well with any skin tone....and for any season!!

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kellyyxo on 12/27/2012 2:17:00 AM more reviews by kellyyxo

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Dry, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

love this colour, super neutral, very natural, goes with everything. i wear this colour all year rounds. if there were to be a nail polish id pick for a business interview this would probably be the one i would wear.

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jennstar777 on 12/7/2012 12:32:00 AM more reviews by jennstar777

Age: 25-29   Skin: Dry, Fair, Cool   Hair: Blond, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

Demure pinkish nude. A more serious pink :) for all seasons.

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starnet on 11/17/2012 2:58:00 AM more reviews by starnet

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

This is a beautiful color. I tried it in the store and just had to have it. It's subtle and feminine. It reminds me of the nude colors that are popular in MAC lipsticks. It's great for when I don't want any bold bright colors, but also don't want my nails to be without any nail polish at all. I got tired of very bright colors and wanted something subdued. It's very flattering to skin tones.
I can't seem to be able to do a second coat with Essie polishes. They just get too thick and never fully dry and just rub off. So I just do one coat and cover with a top coat.

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Rosecoloured on 10/22/2012 7:47:00 PM more reviews by Rosecoloured

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

This colour is my go-to nail polish when I'm not sure which one to use or just need a pick-me-up. The name "Eternal Optimist" is really appealing because I sometimes think about it when I see my nails in this colour and it lifts up my spirits (weird... I know... my brain works in strange ways). The colour is also very flattering for all skin tones IMO and great for all seasons so it's very versatile. This polish is not streaky as some other reviewers have claimed. You just need to add 2 coats and then wait for it to dry before applying a top coat, which is something everyone should be doing with any polish (I mean, come on, this is what the professionals do in nail salons!). It also dries very quickly compared to my other polishes like the Sally Hansen, Revlon, and Loreal ones. I've already bought 2 bottles of this polish. This is unheard of for me since I always want to try new colours and brands.

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Lukewarmluxe on 10/20/2012 12:19:00 AM more reviews by Lukewarmluxe

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

Essie in general
I have tried to like Essie because I love the colors, but I hate everything else about it. I just painted fingernails with Essie and toenails with Sallie Hansen Complete Manicure.
My fingernails look horrible. The polish starts off very thin and then gets to the point where you think that for sure, the next dip is going to be a clump. It never clumped but it was streaky. So streaky. And fingernails are still tacky.
Love the colors, hate the formula.

Essie Eternal Optimist
I like this color. That's all I like about it

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*TOP REVIEWER* Lomelindi on 10/1/2012 9:31:00 AM more reviews by Lomelindi

Age: 19-24   Skin: Oily, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Black    

This is the pinker cousin of OPI's Dulce de Leche color, and ironically, they both have troublesome formulas. DdL is a dusty, brown-pink nude with a very thick formula, and a bottle tends to dry up at only 1/3 of the way down. Essie's Eternal Optimist is a pinker version of the same color, with more peach and beige in it than brown. (It looks a lot more nude in dim lighting and a noticeably pink in bright lighting).


The formula seemed to be thin at first (typical of Essie), but then I realized that it became extremely thick and rather hard to work with by the second coat. I think the reason for this is that the first coat takes longer to dry than I'm used to (for an Essie color), so I was screwing up the first coat when I added the second too quickly. Key lesson: wait for all the coats to dry thoroughly before adding another!!


Personally, I dislike the formula enough that I'll have to take off a lippie. That being said, there's nothing WRONG with the color - it's a really lovely, muted pink, and it's great for work and more formal occasions. If you're into bold colors or sparkles, stay away! But if you like nudes, pinks and softer, more wearable colors, this is a great staple to have.

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*TOP REVIEWER* wickedcoolmama on 9/19/2012 2:04:00 PM more reviews by wickedcoolmama

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

this is my new favorite go-to polish! it is a pretty blush nude and i think it will look good on many skin tones. i have yellow undertone hands and it looks amazing. it is very lady like color that is office appropriate...even for the most conservative work places. this applies beautifully, without any streaks and good to go in two quick coats. it really is a lovely color and a lovely formula.

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*TOP REVIEWER* cheeky on 9/16/2012 6:40:00 AM more reviews by cheeky

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Green    

i normally wear more vibrant colors than this, but saw it for $3.00 and picked it up. i absolutely love it, i only needed 2 coats for it to be opague, and the color is gorgeous and unique.

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ireneyy on 9/9/2012 5:33:00 AM more reviews by ireneyy

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination, Olive, Warm   Hair: Black, Relaxed, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

This is probably one of my favorite nail polishes in my stash. It's a gorgeous color and Essie's description, "A spiced tea rose with a dash of cream", is not only cute and original but also extremely accurate. It's almost a mauve pink but pinker than that. In certain lightings, it can look tan/brown but when I'm outside it looks like a muted "dusty" pink. It's the to-go color for my toes!
Application is absolutely AMAZING. I think this is the nail polish in my entire collection that applies so evenly and smoothly. I can't believe it's not butter!

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Aichina on 9/4/2012 10:56:00 AM more reviews by Aichina

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Blue    

This is a gorgeous nude colour, slightly pinkish, very classy and girly but not over the top. I think it works pretty much on every skin colour. Great for autumn!

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iloovelalu on 8/4/2012 4:44:00 PM more reviews by iloovelalu

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

This colour is absolutely gorgeous on my NC30 skin. It requires at least two coats to achieve full opacity, and it dries to a glossy finish. This nail polish is long-wearing, and maintains its glossiness even after it chips, like many of the Essie nail products.

The consistency of the product is very good as well; it spreads evenly and is not difficult to apply. Unfortunately, after many uses the nail polish became thick and gooey, much unlike my initial applications. I am only down to half of the bottle, and left with this thick polish!

The long-wearing glossy colour is still worth a repurchase, even at its hefty price and short lifespan.

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vloterbiegje on 7/22/2012 6:43:00 AM more reviews by vloterbiegje

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Blue    

Eternal optimist is a gorgeous neutral. On my nails it does not look very nude (as some people call it), but that may be because of my pale skin. It's more in between salmon and baby pink (on the website they call it tea rose), a creamy colour that is still very lively because of the glossy finish. In my opinion, it's the perfect everyday colour for a twentysomething like me. It's serious and toned down enough for office wear but at the same time it's a unique tint with a hint of girliness that's never dull. Love it, can't stop looking at my nails when I'm wearing it.
Only took of a lippie because it applies a little streaky (rather thick consistency). Generally however, it's opaque in two coats.

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