Peptides have been identified that bind with high affinity to body surfaces, such as, hair, skin, nails, teeth, gums, corneal tissue, and oral cavity surfaces. Peptide-based body surface reagents formed by coupling a body surface binding peptide to a benefit agent are described. The peptide-based body surface reagents include peptide-based hair conditioners, hair colorants, skin conditioners, skin colorants, nail colorants, and oral care reagents. The peptide-based hair conditioners and hair colorants are comprised of a hair-binding peptide coupled to a hair conditioning agent or a coloring agent, respectively. The peptide-based skin conditioners and skin colorants are comprised of a skin-binding peptide coupled to a skin conditioning agent or a colorant, respectively. The peptide-based nail colorants are comprised of a nail-binding peptide coupled to a coloring agent. The peptide-based oral care reagents are comprised of an oral cavity surface-binding peptide coupled to an oral care benefit agent. In all these compositions, the peptide may be directly coupled to the active agent or the coupling may be via a spacer. Personal care compositions containing these peptide-based body surface reagents are also described.