The Keys Salt Scrub

If you don’t want to foul the waters with skin care products, avoid those containing microbeads (tiny bits of plastic in many exfoliants). Or you could make your own environmentally-friendly exfoliants.

But what if you don’t really want to make your own? Or you want something “luxurious?”

I discovered The Keys Salt Scrub (Amazon) a couple of years ago and absolutely love it. It’s coarse sea salt in a base of essential oils (they claim to be less oily than other salt scrubs). It’s a body scrub, not a facial one, and gets all that dry flaky skin off while softening hands, feet and legs.

Living more or less outdoors on the boat is rough on my skin, I know.  Maybe age plays a part, too. Wearing shorts and t-shirts (or a bathing suit!) most of the time, I don’t want to be covered in white scales.

My beauty routine is pretty minimal on the boat, and this is my one bit of luxury. Well, I call it a luxury but as skin care products go, it’s not expensive. And I don’t feel bad about it going down the drain, either ashore or on the boat. In fact, I think it’s probably more environmentally friendly than the oatmeal scrub I used to make for myself.

One important note: yes, this contains oil. Oil is slippery. Watch out where you use it on the boat or even in the shower.

P.S. It’s not just for women. Guys like it too. Many of the local fishing fleet (men and women) swear it’s the best thing for removing “fish smell” from their hands.

You can buy The Keys Salt Scrub in tons of places in the Keys — many restaurants and gift shops carry it. Recently, I discovered it’s also for sale on Amazon when I wanted to send some to my sister-in-law for her birthday. My favorite scent is coconut.

• Buy The Keys Salt Scrub on Amazon

Purchases, whether made in the Keys or through Amazon, help support the Keys economy (devastated by Hurricane Irma) as the company is based in the Keys and the scrub is made here.