Making your own body scrub soap (scrub on one side; clear soap on the other) is a breeze. In a Pyrex container, microwave 12 ounces of olive-oil glycerin soap (available at crafts stores) until melted. Add 3 or 4 tablespoons of sand to the melted soap and a few drops of seafoam-green coloring (also available at crafts stores). Stir until the color is evenly mixed. Pour into an empty juice or milk carton (quart or pint size works best), and chill in the fridge. When chilled, peel the carton off the soap. The sand will have settled to the bottom, leaving a large bar of beach body scrub soap.

Green Tip
When washed off our skin, some sunscreens can affect the delicate biodiversity of the ocean. The alternative? Choose an organic, all-natural sunscreen when you frolic at the beach. Try Dr. Hauschka Sunscreen Spray with SPF 20. It's safe on children and is biodegradable. ($29; www.saffronrouge.com).