cover girl lash blast. works great. My wife uses a different cover girl, comes in a red tube.
Here's a few tricks I picked up:
on a brand new mascara, the wand is almost always straight, unless it's been manufactured with a curve in it (more brands do this nowadays). So, if the wand is straight, press it down against a hard surface to give it a slight curve. This will make the wand more like the natural shape of your eye. Makes it easier to apply, especially at the inner corner of your eye.
Also, after removing the wand from the mascara tube, press the narrow tip into a kleenex, and wipe off any excess with a tissue. That prevents the over-application that ends up clumping. Don't pump the wand in the mascara tube-- it pushes air in, and can cause the mascara to dry out faster.
Look for a good lash separator/brush. You almost never get completely clump free, and inevitably there's always a few lashes stuck together. The brush is a life saver.