ESSENCE.COM: The DVD provides step by step tips on makeup application techniques. What makeup tools should be in every woman's beauty bag to help them with the application process?

FINE: The products you use will dictate what tools you need, however...
1) Tweezers are important to own (slanted tips are my favorite), whether you're grooming your own brows or removing a few stray hairs between visits to your beauty professional. 
2) Latex sponges or a synthetic hair foundation brush help foundation glide across the skin... but don't be afraid to use your fingers, especially in those hard-to-reach areas such as underneath eyes and around the nose.
3) When applying loose or pressed powder, use a large powder brush for a soft, diffused application.
4) A large powder brush is also perfect to apply bronzer (but you'll need a separate brush from you're loose powder brush, because you don't want to mix the two).  
5) Instead of using those tiny blush brushes that come with the product, invest in a blush brush! A blush brush is simply a smaller version of the large powder brush. This small fluffy brush ensures that you won't have a streaky application of color on cheeks.
6) I know it's easier to apply lipstick from the tube, but a lip brush is key to achieving flawless coverage and layering gloss beautifully.