It's official: 2021 is the year of the eyes. Now that masks are a necessary accessory and our lipstick collections are getting a little dusty, it's all about opening up your gaze and letting your eyes shine. Maybe you've added some new palettes to your arsenal, freshened up your dwindling eyeliner collection with some glittery options, or fully committed to rehabbing your brows back to their full, bushy glory. But there's one thing that will always take your eye look to the next level: a big, bad, volumizing mascara.

Sure, more length is always great, but lately we're all about pumping up the pigment and thickness of each hair to balance out much of our face being covered. For those with barely-there hairs, a volumizing formula can cling to even the slightest lashes and create the illusion of dense, inky fringe that's usually only achievable with falsies. Even if you love your natural lashes the way they are, a formula that amps up your God-given assets can take any smoky eye or feline flick up a notches. And on no-makeup makeup days, a coat or two of mascara can make you look instantly *together*, even if you're feeling like you're all over the place. Here, we've rounded up the best, most volume-inducing formulas for every type of lash and occasion so you can put your best gaze forward.

For Long Nights

Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara : Marc Jacobs Beauty

Marc Jacobs mascaras are beloved by beauty editors far and wide, thanks to their always-inky pigments and durability. This one is especially covetable thanks to its major volumizing powers.

For Feathery Fringe

Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara : L'Oreal Paris

We love a classic, and this is one of the best. Its brush coats lashes in the lengthening and thickening formula from root to tip for an especially lifted look.

For A Buildable Look

Dark Star Volumizing Mascara : PAT McGRATH LABS

There's going-out lashes. and then there's what we like to call a full-on PARTY LASH. Whichever look you're going for, this super pigmented option is can be layered on to achieve your desired thickness.

For Curling

Lash Idôle Lash-Lifting & Volumizing Mascara : Lancôme

This curved wand pushes lashes up and out for a cute curled effect, and the lightweight formula feels like you're going barefaced.

For a False Lash Effect

Maybelline Falsies Lash Lift Mascara : Maybelline

The name says it all. If you're not so handy with lash glue and faux fringe, a couple layers of this formula will take your lashes up about ten notches.

For a Night Out

Le Volume de Chanel Mascara : Chanel

If you have an eyeshadow palette on deck for your Saturday night look, this is the formula to pair it with. Its buildable formula is jet black and pumps up both length and volume for an intense gaze.

For Fragile Lashes

Mile High Club Mascara : Wander Beauty

If you went overboard with the lash extensions and now your fringe needs a little rehabilitation, you don't have to sacrifice that falsies look you love. This formula contains castor seed oil that conditions and nourishes lashes in addition to giving them in inky, voluminous lift.

For A Cat Eye

Diorshow Pump ‘N’ Volume HD Mascara : Dior

The spiky brush in Dior's offering helps separate your lash hairs for that thick fanned out look we love, and it's enriched with vitamin B and cotton extract to strengthen lashes while you rock it.

For A Bombshell Beat

Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes Volumizing & Lengthening Mascara : Charlotte Tilbury

CT's newest mascara provides off-the-charts volume and length thanks to a couple special ingredients. A lash-lifting polymer keeps hairs in place, while carnauba wax and microcrystalline wax add body and texture just like your favorite styling spray would.

For A Smoky Eye

Mascara L'Obscur : Gucci

For a killer eye look that's the star of your weekend beat, reach for this buildable option. If gives the lashes a slight curl and a deep coat of black pigment that instantly make the whites of your eyes appear whiter and your shadow bolder.