Essie Eternal Optimist Nail Polish Swatches + Review
Published 2026-07-24. This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase. Use my link to shop online at CVS.com for all your beauty, health and wellness needs and pickup in store for free! #CVSPartner #ad
Today we’re going to talk about a classic, long running nail polish from Essie. It has an established fan base, it’s beautiful and it is currently on their best seller list.
It’s a spiced, tea rose pink that is one of the best pink nail colors for fall, in my opinion, although it’s originally from a spring collection in 2009.
It’s also one of my favorite named polishes from Essie, as a whole.
I love thinking about myself as an Eternal Optimist, but truth be told, I’m not always in that headspace.
There are days when I need to give myself a few minutes to grieve the things in life that didn’t go exactly the way I thought they would before I get on with creating my future.
Once I take a few minutes to feel, I can easily get back into an Eternal Optimist mind state.
Here’s how I do it:
I give myself no more than 30 minutes to feel my feelings then I force myself to snap out of it by purposely thinking about more positive things like what I’m grateful for, or things that did work out better than planned.
It feels good to pivot to a new, more positive tone after I’ve allowed myself the time to process my experiences.
But let’s get back to optimistically speaking.
Even when things don’t go to plan, everything can still turn out alright.
For example, this blog was founded, in part, as a creative outlet when something else in my life wasn’t going as expected - and I love it here now.
Looking back, I’m grateful for the experience because without it, there would be no Lots of Lacquer.
Without the aforementioned experience, you wouldn’t be reading this blog and enjoying these swatches with me.
So, you never know where the road will lead you, and sometimes it’s to places better than you thought, like the creation of this beauty blog.
Before we dive deeper into the swatches, this blog begs the question.
What is an eternal optimist?
According to the Center for Optimism…
“Eternal optimism is a steadfast belief that good things will happen, regardless of challenges or setbacks.
It is an approach that embodies a resilient, hopeful outlook, consistently focusing on the positive aspects of situations and finding silver linings even in difficult times.
Eternal optimists actively seek solutions and opportunities for improvement, inspiring and uplifting those around them.
This persistent, optimistic mindset fosters perseverance, innovation, and collaboration, helping individuals and teams navigate challenges confidently and enthusiastically.”
After reading this, do you believe yourself to be an eternal optimist?
I will say for sure I am a silver lining type of person.
Okay, now let’s get to the swatches.
Essie Eternal Optimist Swatches
Is it the name? Is it the color? Is it something more mystical?
I don’t know, but this warm dusty rose polish has a funny way of getting you to think in terms of glass half-full.
It’s cozy and I love it for rainy or cloudy days especially, but it’s a shade you can wear year round, no matter the weather.
Eternal Optimist is a winner, in my eyes.
It’s a warm, creamy pink nail shade that is not only beautiful and demure but also perfect for work-friendly nail looks.
The name alone may help you get into a more optimistic mood - so I love wearing it when I need to look at things with a rosier view.
All in all, this classic pink nail color is a long running favorite for many reasons.
It’s flattering, it applies easily, it self levels and it is opaque in 2 coats. Plus, the name may inspire you to think more positively about things, which is likely part of its success.
A nail polish that’s pretty and could inspire the thinking of nice thoughts? Yes please!
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