Nail Polish - Eternal Optimist

This is by all accounts a very pretty color. It's a medium-salmon creme which dries to a high-shine finish, especially with a good topcoat. It looks professional and pulled-together, or fun and summery, depending on your look. It really is quite versatile. I have no problems wearing it to work, and it would look nice for more formal occasions too. The problems come with the fact that you get …Read more

This is one of my favorite nail polishes. It is a neutral pink-mauve color. The color goes with everything. Coverage is good, although I might get a slight streaking at times. I use two coats. It lasts longer than average, I would say. I wish the bottle was a little bigger. The Essie bottles are small.

I like this polish KINDA, but I can't get around that it just seems like something my mom would've worn in the 80's (no offense, Mom!). And I am now a middle-aged woman myself, but it still just seems to be too "matronly" for my liking. I know this type of shade is making it's comeback in polish - what's old is new again - but I can't wrap my head around …Read more

This is a really nice subdued but subtly sexy pink. I find it reads a touch nude in some lights, a touch mauve in others, but it always reads pink. There's something about this shade that feels sort of foxy 70s secretary to me for some reason. It's one of Essie's best-selling polishes.

I am not very skilled at applying nail polish so I don't really like applying …Read more

Another Essie polish that I enjoy. This and lady like are my go to "nude" colors. I do find I need 3 coats to get a solid even look on my nails but that seems to be the norm for all the Essie polishes I own. It a nice delicate pink color however I feel lady like compliments my skin tone more. I top all my polishes with seche vite and get a good 4 days or so of wear. If I was actually …Read more

Although this color looks like a gorgeous light rose in the bottle, against my pale skin it comes across with an orange tint. The quality is fine - shiny, smooth, and overall typical Essie - but the shade isn't flattering, at least with my very light complexion. Also, it had a stronger chemical smell than usual from the brand. Your mileage may vary, of course.

My favourite Essie shade from the dozen I've tried, and I'm usually a red nail polish girl (I do love a few of the Essie reds)

Incredibly flattering on my lighter olive skin, it's an update on a pinky nude shade, not too light, not too dark. Most alleged 'nudes' are either too light and chalky, too brown, too sheer or too 'looking like liquid paper' …Read more

One of my favourite My Nails But Better Shades. A pale, neutral mauve cream, with good gloss. I can use one coat for a good coverage. I am NW 25

Essie is known to be a hit-or-miss brand, so I was a bit cautious about spending $8 on nail polish when there was a similar color from a lesser-hyped brand for only $4. I had a gift card, so I thought, "now's the time to try it out".

The nail polish smell was very strong. Normally I don't mind it but this one was intense.
The color was very easy to apply and …Read more

I like Essie polishes usually, but my brand new bottle was streaky resulting in chips the very first day. The color is nice, a very rosy shade that leans toward a neutral.