9 Surprising Ways To Improve Your Skin-are Routine

People put a lot of products on their skin, but do they really know what ingredients are in them? Many skin-care solutions have similar chemicals, but there are a few standout picks with seemingly weird ingredients that are really good for your skin. You just might be surprised at how well these products could work for you, even if you've never heard of them before.

You may never have considered using a red wine sheet mask, but the wine can actually get rid of build up in your pores. And there's a good chance you never thought something like sulfur could help you clear up blemishes, but it can shrink down stubborn zits when applied with a special spot treatment. Products with snail slime (yes, really!) have finally made their way into the United States beauty market, and they're pretty amazing — even if the *exotic* ingredient sounds inherently gross at first. The powerful snail mucus works to fight UV damage and replenish your skin, so it's definitely worth a try.

If your current skin-care routine is lacking, consider familiarizing yourself with a few ingredients you probably haven't tried just yet. The more you know about these different options, the more you'll be able to tailor your routine — so it's doing as much (or as little) as you really need.

Repair UV Damage While You Sleep With Snail Mucus

Mizon All In One Snail Repair Cream , $20, Amazon

You'd never dream of rubbing a snail across your face, but turns out those little guys have some powerful skin healing properties in their mucus. This repairing cream packs a whopping level of snail mucus extract at 92 percent. (Yes, that's actually a good thing.) The creamy formula gets to work repairing damaged skin cells (caused by everything from UV rays to acne scars) and improving skin elasticity — a major plus when you're fighting tired skin from one too many late nights. This cream is hypoallergenic, too, so it's great for sensitive skin.

Detoxify Your Skin With Natural Dead Sea Mud

Aria Starr Beauty Dead Sea Mud Mask, $15, Amazon

At first, smearing mud all over your face might seem counter-intuitive, especially if you're trying to cleanse pores of dirt and other pollutants. But this Dead Sea mud mask delves deep into your skin, using minerals like calcium, zinc, and potassium to extract toxins from your pores, absorbing those excess oils that can make skin look shiny. The formula is 100 percent natural, and its shea butter, aloe vera, and jojoba oil ensure your face stays soft throughout all that circulation-boosting exfoliation.

Decongest Your Skin With Vitamin P

REN Rosa Centifolia Hot Cloth Cleanser, $26, Amazon

We've heard about vitamins A, C, and E, but 'vitamin P' isn't one we usually look out for. Though the ingredient is commonly referred to as a vitamin, it's actually a grouping of compounds that further enhance vitamin C's ability to repair damaged skin cells. That makes this hot cloth cleanser a good choice for removing makeup and shedding dead skin, in addition to opening up pores to release breakout-causing toxins. Just apply the cleanser to dry skin and massage in, letting the soothing cocoa seed butter replenish lost moisture. Then, apply a wash cloth soaked in warm water over your face for a mini facial.

Clear Your Pores With Red Wine

Tonymoly Facial Mask Sheet in Red Wine, $12, Amazon

Now your face mask can match that glass of red wine you were planning on sipping during your pamper time. This facial mask is a pore-cleansing sheet mask infused with red wine extract, which lays over your skin to free your face from toxins and other gunk built up over time. So rest your head and relax, and of course pour yourself a glass of wine. Fans of the mask say their skin has never looked better. One said, "This mask did wonders for me when I had dry, red, flaky patches of skin in the winter that would not respond to water-based moisturizers or straight up oil."

Shrink Zits Gently On Sensitive Skin With Calamine

Mario Badescu Drying Lotion, $17, Amazon

Harsh acne treatments and sensitive skin don't mix well, but calamine can help sensitive skin to stay calm throughout the blemish-treating process. This Mario Badescu drying lotion has that soothing calamine for touchy skin, in addition to salicylic acid, which is the powerful ingredient shrinking down your pesky breakout. Just dab some on before bed with a Q-Tip, and leave it on overnight. It shrinks whiteheads quickly, so you'll finally have a powerful pimple product that doesn't require a big side of moisturizer to keep agitation levels low.

Buff Away Dead Skin With Lychee Seed Extract Gel

NUXE Gentle Exfoliating Gel for Sensitive Skin, $24, Amazon

Your skin needs gentle exfoliation a few times each week to stay healthy and promote good cell turnover. This particular exfoliant comes in a gel formula, which can make the scrubbing process gentler than those filled with abrasive beads. This gel's invigorating botanical exfoliants — lychee seed extract and nutshell powder extract — work together to slough off dead skin cells for a brighter glow. Rose petal water also helps soften your skin and improve its texture, so your face will look and feel super smooth. One fan of the exfoliating gel said, "I gave it five stars because it is also packaged nicely, has a fabulous scent, is easy to use, it rinses off easily, and it leaves your skin hydrated, but clean and clear."

Hydrate Your Skin With Royal Honey

Hey Honey Good Night: Royal Honey Gel & Coenzyme Q10, $39, Amazon

Because honey extract helps skin better hold onto its moisture, this honey skin gel will make sure your skin is hydrated day and night. Its aloe leaf juice keeps your skin calm, soft, and antioxidants like Coenzyme Q10 and vitamin E protect you skin from the damaging effects of UV rays.

Zap Away Acne With Sulfur, While Hydrolyzed Oat Flour Prevents Over-Drying

Murad Acne Spot Treatment, $18, Amazon

When you want to get rid of blemishes fast, this Murad spot treatment makes it easy using a powerful combination of sulfur and salicylic acid. It's powerful enough to dry up stubborn acne spots, and its licorice extract helps soothe redness. Vitamin C and E also work with the acids and licorice extract, continuously fortifying your irritated skin against further damage from environmental stressors. Plus, this solution won't become too drying (like with other acne treatments), thanks to the hydrolyzed oat flour that maintains hydration.

Remove Oily Pore Plugs With Heilmoor Clay

Drunk Elephant JuJu Bar, $28, Amazon

Getting rid of dead skin cells makes room for new, healthy skin cells. The Drunk Elephant soap bar gently exfoliates as the heilmoor clay detoxifies — purging your pores of stubborn oily deposits. Marula oil and goji berry add back moisture with repairing antioxidants, which can protect your skin from the damaging effects of too much sun exposure. It packs a lot of punch in a little bar of soap!

Bustle may receive a portion of sales from products purchased from this article, which was created independently from Bustle's editorial and sales departments.

Images: Fotolia (1); Amazon (9)