You know a skin care ingredient has star power when beauty products start including it in the name, rather than just the ingredient list. Such is the Cinderella story of turmeric, an ingredient long used in Ayurvedic medicine for its anti-inflammatory properties, but little utilized in Western skin treatments until recently. It's popping up in high-end, luxe-feeling beauty products like Kiehl's Turmeric & Cranberry Seed Energizing Radiance Exfoliant Mask, Skin Authority Beauty Infusion Turmeric & Blueberry for Brightening and Juara Turmeric Antioxidant Radiance Mask.

But can this golden spice really energize, exfoliate and impart radiance on skin? Doesn't that sound like the fountain of youth itself? Here's the weirdly awesome thing about turmeric: It actually lives up to the hype, with the scientific studies to prove it.

Perhaps best known as an anti-inflammatory, a 2003 study backed up turmeric's main claim to fame when researchers found it blocked the protein that causes inflammation related to stress, free radicals and ultraviolet radiation. Translation: Applying this spice can help with conditions like psoriasis, acne and dermatitis, claims further backed up by a May 2016 study.

Other studies have found that applying turmeric helps retain skin elasticity and prevent wrinkles and sun spots caused by UVB rays; heal burn wounds and prevent skin cancer.

According to Miami-based board-certified dermatologist Dr. Leslie Baumann, you don't have to participate in a study or buy a beauty product off the shelf -- you can make a turmeric mask yourself. "Homemade is just as good," says Baumann. And you can expect near-immediate results, with a decrease in skin redness six to 10 hours after applying a mask, says Baumann.

We rounded up the best turmeric homemade face masks to stop acne in its tracks, reduce redness and give you the glowing, lit-from-within skin that dreams are made of.

Image via Roylee_photosunday/Getty

Try it: When you're low on time and beauty sleep

Why it works: This simple DIY mask is easy to throw together and perks up skin while keeping the ingredient list minimal. Turmeric is the all-star ingredient, which works with honey to brighten the complexion and fight blemishes.

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons of flour (Try ground oats if your skin is dry.)
1 teaspoon turmeric
3 tablespoons milk
A few drops of honey

Directions: Visit Hello Glow

Try it: Before your monthly acne flare-up

Why it works: Yogurt contains lactic acid, a natural alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) that dissolves old skin cells to reveal fresh, bright skin. Neem powder is another staple in Ayurvedic beauty routines, lauded for its antifungal, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. In India, neem is used to treat everything from eczema to bug bites.

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon plain yogurt
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon neem powder (available on Amazon)

Directions: Visit Surya Spa

Try it: In the summer months, when starfruit is in season and sweat-induced breakouts are at an all-time high

Why it works: Starfruit is rich in vitamin A, which helps control oil, and vitamin C, which acts as a natural protector against sun damage. Since sun exposure and oil are two of the biggest culprits behind breakouts, slathering this on will help keep acne at bay.

Ingredients:
1 starfruit
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon turmeric

Directions: Visit "Recipe for Radiance"

Try it: When you want to use your old college ID for a student discount

Why it works: Studies show that wrinkles aren't the No. 1 sign of aging -- that distinction belongs to uneven skin tone. This mask helps even out too-rosy cheeks and lighten signs of sun damage. The citric acid in lemons helps fade dark spots, while honey hydrates and prevents redness.

Ingredients:
3 tablespoons rolled oats (ground into oat flour in food processor)
1 tablespoon manuka honey
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1 squeeze fresh lemon juice

Directions: Visit The Glowing Fridge