Date reviewed: January 2026 | Price £8.99
Why choosing the right mascara matters
You’ll find mascara in most of our makeup bags. Many of us feel our faces aren’t complete without it (me included).
We all suspect that not all mascaras are created equally, right? Some don’t budge, while others flake, smudge or disappear the minute a drop of rain shows up.
Enter waterproof mascaras with bold claims to hang on to your lashes, whatever the world throws at them. Steam, heat, sweat, snow, rubbing, full-on workouts. Did I miss anything?
However, even waterproof mascara doesn’t always live up to the hype, and choosing wisely is key to a good result.
In this review, I put the 5D Lash Waterproof Mascara from Revolution through its paces. It’s a budget mascara but still needs to do the job.
Why you should trust Still Sassy’s waterproof mascara reviews
No manufacturers or retailers have any influence over my reviews and buyer’s guides. All products are tested thoroughly, fairly and equally over a set period of time and on mature women.
Your purchasing decisions should always be yours. At Still Sassy, my aim is to provide in-depth information so you can make the right choices when shopping.
Why should women over 50 use waterproof mascara?
As we get older, our lashes naturally thin, shorten and become more delicate. So even if you’ve been blessed with a lavish set, you may see a change with age as lashes become finer, sparser and lighter in colour. Mascara replaces what time takes away, bringing definition to your eyes, helping them stand out and preventing your face from looking ‘flat.’ This helps many women feel more confident.
So, mascara is useful for us over-50 women, but only if it stays put as you go about your day.
In the ‘olden days’, waterproof mascara used to be harsh, drying and difficult to remove. But things have changed with many, like the Revolution 5D Waterproof Mascara, now specially formulated to reduce all of the above.
Product details
Colour available: Black
Amount: 14 ml
Price: £8.99
Claims
Revolution says the 5D Waterproof Mascara is waterproof, sweatproof, tearproof, lifeproof and partyproof, so you can safely swim, gym, laugh, cry and party all night. It lifts and defines lashes and stretches them too, for bigger, brighter, wide-awake eyes. It hugs and coats each lash after just one swipe and is infused with hydrating hyaluronic acid.
How I reviewed it
I wore the Revolution 5D Waterproof Mascara daily for two months in all weathers and while running, going out, sitting in my office etc. On average, I wore it for eight hours a day. I always apply two coats of mascara as I find that gives me the best result with any brand I wear. I apply the second coat before the first is fully dry – about 30 seconds later.
The wand explained
The Revolution 5D Waterproof Mascara has a 2-way, tapered, fibre-bristle wand that is 2.5 centimetres long. It is fuller at the bottom and thinner at the top, which should allow for precise application, enabling you to reach all the lashes equally, even the smallest and finest. It’s not a bushy wand. Unlike nylon or plastic bristles, fibre ones are softer and are designed to deposit product more effectively onto lash tips, helping you create the effect of longer lashes. It’s engineered for precision and separation over maximum volume.
The 2-way aspect means the wand is designed to work from multiple angles and deliver multiple effects, for example, length through consistent depositing of the product, definition through separation of the lashes and lift through the precise angle and bristle arrangement. Who’d have thought that a simple brush could do so much? This should make application easier to control without any tugging on your lashes, which can pull them out, and is the last thing we need as mature women.
Application
Revolution 5D is easy to apply and gives a lengthening look. The wand is easy to handle and is as described – I was able to coat all the lashes with minimum effort. If you have long lashes like me, you may find a small amount of mascara transfers onto your brow bone and also some of the lower lashes. This is easily removed by letting the mascara dry, then flicking it off with a cotton bud. Or use a small amount of oil-infused micellar oil on the cotton bud.
Longevity test
Rubbing the eyes when the Revolution 5D Waterproof Mascara has fully dried resulted in a small amount of smudge under the eyes. Under a 50X mirror, I could see flaking around the eye, but this couldn’t be seen without the mirror.
Flaking when dry – none with normal wear. Some with rubbing.
Smudging when dry – none with normal wear.
Fading – none with normal wear.
Eyelash drooping – none with normal wear.
Is it waterproof?
In the shower, the Revolution 5D Waterproof Mascara was waterproof (tested for 10 minutes)
Rubbing wet eyes after walking in the rain, the Revolution 5D Waterproof Mascara stayed put.
When sweating, I didn’t have any problems with the mascara either.
Does it layer?
If, like me, you sometimes like to layer up your mascara with a non-waterproof one followed by waterproof when I need my lashes to look amazing and stay put too, then you’ll be fine with the Revolution 5D Waterproof Mascara. It layered well, and its effectiveness was not compromised.
With and without using curlers
I’m a lash curler fan and use them every time I apply mascara. But for testing purposes, I go without them too, so I can get a feel for how the lashes look without curling them first. With this mascara, the curlers gave a very slight lengthening effect. Not enough to make curlers essential for achieving a good result. I would still use them though!
Removal
Revolution’s advice for removing the 5D Waterproof Mascara is to use an oil-based product.
I used the chamomile version of the oil-based B by Superdrug Melting Cleansing Balm, along with a flannel, to remove two layers of mascara.
Applying the cleansing balm with my fingers and rubbing gently around the eye softened the mascara. Using a wet, warm flannel did the rest. You have to be thorough with waterproof mascara, but gentle too, to protect your lashes. No one wants a snapped lash!
So, I’m pleased to say the Revolution 5D Waterproof Mascara was very easy to remove without damaging my eyelashes or causing any irritation.
The useful ingredients*
*The following section is a little geeky. Thankfully, there isn’t a test at the end and no one expects us to remember these long chemical names. I choose to include them because as you read more of the reviews you’ll come to recognise the key active ingredients in a product which will allow you to make meaningful choices based on a product’s comparative performance rather than just marketing-babble. Let me know if you find it useful.
Revolution has used a sophisticated multi-layered approach to waterproofing this mascara, using several key ingredients. Isododecane is a solvent that evaporates quickly, allowing the mascara to set easily while remaining lightweight and non-greasy. Then we have a durable protective barrier with excellent water-repellency and sweat resistance provided by Trimethylsiloxysilicate. Additional water resistance and the smooth, flexible feel are built in using Acylates Copolymer.
Humectants can hold up to 1,000 times their weight in water, and adding Sodium Hyaluronate (which is one) to this mascara is a good choice. Waterproof mascaras rely on waxes, polymers and film-formers to stay put, but these can be drying over time – not great for our mature lashes, which are already compromised. Sodium Hyaluronate counteracts this by retaining moisture inside the lash fibre, reducing the stiff, brittle feel you sometimes get. So, you should get more flexibility than crunching. It also protects the lashes from snapping when you remove the mascara (as long as you use the right cleanser).
The inclusion of rice bran oil and rice bran wax helps condition lashes, supporting flexibility and comfort during wear while reducing dryness associated with long-wear formulas. These ingredients offer protective, conditioning benefits.
Then serving as a humectant, emollient, and preservative booster is Caprylyl Glycol, which hydrates while minimising the need for harsher preservatives. For delicate mature eyelids, this is a thoughtful formulation choice.
Revolution 5D Waterproof Mascara – the verdict
For a budget mascara, the Revolution 5D Lash did a sterling job. It added volume, separated lashes and was steadfastly waterproof.
A bit of transfer on application was the only grumble, and that’s mostly because I’ve got long eyelashes which almost touch the browbone. Also, if you rub your eyes while wearing it, you will get a small amount of shading under the eye.
Revolution has a habit of changing its products regularly, but while it’s still available, I’ll be buying it.
Things to remember
Once opened, you should throw your mascara away after three months of use, even if some is left. This is the shelf life for a healthy mascara.
Don’t share your mascara with anyone else, as you may transfer an infection to them or vice versa.
What to try it?
I bought this mascara myself. Revolution has not paid me to write this review, and the brand doesn’t see or approve my content before it’s published.
If you’d like to try it, you can use the affiliate link below. If you choose to buy through this link, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps me fund more independent, in-depth testing for women over 50.
My aim is always to give you honest, robust reviews so you can spend your money wisely.