In no particular order, here are my top picks (and my favorites in each category):

An eyelash curler (Shu Uemura)

A go-to mascara (COVERGIRL Lashblast Fusion or Organic Pharmacy)

A great lip color and gloss (Chanel -- Glossimar in "Canari" and Rouge Coco Shine in "Monte Carlo")

A cleanser/toner/moisturizer that works for your skin type (Jurlique cleanser, any rose water for toner, Cetaphil SPF 15 moisturizer)

A good exfoliator (Origins Modern Friction)

I believe every woman needs a signature perfume -- something serious and distinct. (This means no Britney Spears product.) It's like a calling card. It lingers. It's a scent that becomes attached with memory.

a paddle brush (particularly mason pearson, it's totally worth the hype)

a true red nail polish ... just such a classic

a good concealer

Here are what I consider must haves for the 25 and over crowd:

1. Definitely an eye cream, preferably with SPF. I love Clarins with SPF and Dr. Brandt r3p Eye Cream.

2. Day moisturizer with SPF! I love Murad Essential C line day moisturizer with SPF 30 or for oilier skin Boscia Oil Free Daily Hydration SPF 15.

3. A creamy concealer, such as Sephora brand Perfecting Coverage Concealer or Benefit Boing.

4. Blush helps you keep a youthful glow. CARGO Beach Blushes are so pretty, my favorite shade is Echo Beach. I also love Stila Convertible Color in Gerbera.

5. Mascara is essential and I am obsessed with the tube/fiber kind. Fiberwig is amazing as is Too Faced Lash Injection.

Eye cream

anti-aging serum (well after 25 maybe)

Great lipstick, a good red and a good coral.

Good eye liners in brown, black and charcoal

Tinted moisturizer with at least SPF 30 ( we want to stay looking young as long as possible).

Sleep

Wash face with mild foamy cleanser - Clean and Clear

Use toner - Kiehl's Acai Berry

Apply under eye cream- Badescu Hyalauronic acid

Apply sunscreen - at least 30 spf

Apply Vitam E Oil lightly, but massage in cicular motion

Apply face cream - Emu Oil Cream - get from korunaturals.com.  Australian Aborigines have used it medicinally for thousand of years

Apply mineral powder  - Bare Escentuals

Eyeliner and shadow and mascara - Maybelline, Revlon, or prestige brands - Cargo, Urban Decay

Light dusting of blush on apples of cheeks

Lip gloss

Body Lotion all over.  If summer, self tanner

Extra treat - Urban Decay sparkly powder on arms and legs.  Works best on top of body lotion

Favorite fragrance or comination of a couple to get your own personal aroma.

Definitely a signature fragrance

One go to lip stick/lip gloss

Concealer 

Bronzer/Blush

Mascara

Eye Shadow Palette

Makeup Removing Wipes

& a compact mirror so she can see herself on the go! 

A good cleanser/toner/moisturizer (Olay)

Eye shadow

Good lipstick tht would last for more than 8 hrs 

signature perfume!

Facial cleanser! I use Clean & Clear wipes and Dial soap.

Sunscreen.

Foundation, Tinted Moisturizer and/or concealer.

Tinted gloss or balm. I'm a huge fan of MAC Lipglass.

Eyeliner. Urban Decay 24/7, MAC Fluidlines, Stila Smudgepots, Physicians Formula Creamliners are all good.

Mascara. Prestige My Biggest Lashes.

Eyeshadow. At least some neutral colors.

Eyeshadow primer. UDPP is my fave, but there are plenty of other good ones (and cheaper ones)!

Blush. Wet 'n' Wild makes some good ones.

Makeup brushes! ELF and Ecotools have great inexpensive ones. Good brushes make all the difference.

A good moisturizer

Sunblock

Exfolliator 

A Clarisonic 

Mascara

Eyelash curler

A good concealer

a bight nail polish

a fabulous lipgloss/lipstick