When you look at the ingredient labels on some of your favorite natural skin care products, you'll likely see many ingredients you recognize from your pantry.

For good reason: Many of the same foods that you use to nurture your body are healthy when applied topically as well.

So if you're looking to experiment with a new Sunday night mask or DIY your own body oil, you'll likely find what you need right at home—or with a quick grocery store run.

But don't just take our word for it: There's actually research to back these claims up. Read below for some of our science-backed favorites: 

Honey (or even better: Manuka honey) is one of the most multifunctional items in your kitchen. With regards to skin care, research has found that raw, organic honey has antimicrobial properties1, can help heal skin wounds, and is anti-inflammatory.

Try it at home: Manuka honey has gained popularity as a face wash recently: Simply apply it to dampened skin and remove with a warm washcloth. You can also use it as a healing mask once a week by applying a thin layer on clean skin for about 10 minutes, before rinsing it off with warm water.

This trendy household staple is used for everything from natural lip glosses and hair masks to and oil for the ayurvedic practice of oil pulling. The oil is rich2 in fatty acids, which give it antibacterial properties, help your skin boost collagen production3, and can help improve4 moisture levels and the barrier function5.

People also love it because they find it absorbs easier than other, thicker oils (there's likely some truth there: It's a monounsaturated fat, which has higher permeability rates for the dermis6). However, coconut oil has also been found to be comedogenic—pore-clogging—in some patients. It's also very high in lauric acid, which can accumulate in the top layer of the skin without penetrating, leaving the skin drier over time if used too much. 

Try it at home: It works as a great base for most DIY beauty products—try it with sea salt for a moisturizing body scrub (see here).

Olive oil is high in vitamin E7, an oil-soluble antioxidant that is often used in anti-aging products. When applied topically, this can help reduce oxidative stress8 on the skin and hair.

The vitamin E also makes it incredibly anti-inflammatory for skin9 experiencing free-radical damage from sun exposure, according to a study. However, studies do show that regular application can exacerbate eczema10, if you are prone to the skin disorder.

Try it at home: Organic, virgin olive oil tends to be a go-to for all-natural oil cleansing due to its high antioxidant content and ability to lift off even the most stubborn of makeup. Even if you are not one to oil-cleanse, one drop per eye makes for an excellent makeup remover. 

Rich in triglycerides2, shea butter is an excellent emollient and can help skin reduce moisture loss. Shea butter extract has also been shown11 to be anti-inflammatory11, and one study even suggests it has similar topical effects as ceramides12, an ingredient often used in luxe skin care products. 

Try it at home: It's a thicker texture, so if you'd like to use it topically, we'd suggest as an intensive hand cream or on your legs post-shave. You can also make pretty wonderful lip products with the butter as a base (find our suggestions for several balms here).

This is the classic go-to for sunburns and soothing gels for a reason13. It is high in vitamins A, C, E, and B12, which help reduce damage done by free radicals; it also contains inflammation-reducing enzymes. But the reason most people love it is how easily it sinks into skin (which is likely due to the high water content; the gel is about 90% water).

Try it at home: Why mess with success—the most popular (and easy) way to use the plant is simply by slicing open a leaf and applying the gel topically. Use it on a fresh burn, along with one drop of pure lavender essential oil. And don't be surprised by the odd smell of raw aloe—it's more pungent than you'd expect.

Oat, oat extract, and colloidal oat is a favorite ingredient in sensitive skin care products14, as it is found to be very calming for irritated skin15. Research shows that this is due to its anti-inflammatory properties16, as well as antihistamine effects, which is why it's so often used to soothe atopic allergic reactions.

Try it at home: Try drawing a colloidal oat bath (or oats ground to a fine powder, so it mixes in with the water), which is especially effective for any itchiness caused by dry skin. Mix in 1 cup to your warm bath water as it's running.

This mealtime essential is a skin care savior17 thanks to the plethora of waxes, minerals, proteins, and vitamins—with studies suggesting it can be a nourishing antioxidant18 treat for the skin. Also of note: Avocado oil, which is extracted from the pulp, has been shown to increase collagen synthesis19 in one study19. 

Try it at home: There are plenty of at-home avocado masks out there—many including other items on this list, like honey, yogurt, and oat. To get you started, a half avocado, mashed, is a good base.

Studies have shown that this will likely be one of your best natural options for improving barrier function20: The oil, high in linoleic acid18, improves skin's hydration and lipid synthesis, without causing irritation. It's also shown to be noncomedogenic.

Try it at home: If you want a lighter oil for a face wash, especially if you are acne-prone, sunflower seed oil will be ideal for cleansing—in fact, many of the popular oil face washes contain the ingredient. You can also use it as a light body oil, applied to wet skin.

There might not be as much research for the vegetable's skin care benefits, but there is a reason it's used so often in spas: It can be highly soothing for tired or inflamed skin. Not only is the high water content hydrating, but studies suggest the other nutrients in the juice can help reduce swelling21 as well.

Try it at home: If you have time in the morning, skip the jade rollers or refrigerated spoons, and opt-for this old-school technique—simply place two chilled slices over your eyes to de-puff and energize skin.

Here's a great body moisturizer: The emollient has been shown in one study to help reduce the appearance and formation of stretch marks22. It's been shown to have photo-protective effects23 on the skin as well, as it can help reduce the damage of photo-aging.

Try it at home: You can make pretty great body oils with just a few simple ingredients—like this luxe, yet inexpensive, recipe.

Fermented dairy products contain lactic acid, a favorite among estheticians and dermatologists due to its gentle exfoliation and hydration properties. They also contain tons of good-for-your-skin-microbiome probiotics, which recent research shows can be beneficial for acne-prone skin when taken orally or even topically. The combo of these two actives makes for a great skin treatment: One study found that natural yogurt masks improved the moisture24, elasticity, and brightness of the skin.

Try it at home: First and foremost: Always opt for organic, no-sugar-added options. From there, you can make a variety of masks with yogurt as a base—here are a few options.

This oil is best known as hair care favorite—anecdotally many claim it encourages hair growth; however, there's no research to support this. Regardless, it's a great moisturizer for hair and body as it has humectant properties (as a reminder, humectants pull in water).

Try it at home: Use it as a body moisturizer or hair oil (most people will find it too thick as a face oil). However, another common usage is mixing it with olive oil to make a DIY oil cleanser—castor oil is full of triglycerides so it removes dirt.

Roses are perhaps not part of your regular rotation, but if you happen to get a bouquet, it will make a decadent rose water, which you can use as a hydrating toner pre-oil or throughout the day as a mist, the latter of which was studied in 2014, and the researchers found that mists can act as an effective moisturizer throughout the day.

Try it at home: Dry your organic roses first, and gather enough to make a quarter cup. Bring a cup and half to boil, before letting it simmer on low heat. Add the roses and "cook" until all the color is gone from the petals. Drain into a spritzer and store in your fridge. Use it up within a month (remember: This doesn't contain preservatives, so it will not have the same shelf life as store-bought.) Here's a handy DIY recipe for you to try.

There are many natural ingredients that can hydrate your skin—and many of them are found right in your kitchen! And even if you don't want to go the DIY route, there are many face moisturizers that use natural ingredients you can find.