Understanding Skin-Care Products : “Take Care of Your Skin” Author: Elaine Brumberg. Info: HarperPerennial, 1990 edition. $11 paperback (also available in hardcover from Harper & Rowe). 262 pages plus an index.

Brumberg divides her book into four sections, first discussing the psychology of how skin-care products are pitched to us and how we make the choices of what products we buy.

Next she describes how to become your own beauty expert and understand your particular skin type. Then she guides you through choosing and using the best cleansers, moisturizers, anti-aging agents and sunscreens. The final section combines all this information into a routine suited to you for managing skin care.

The book is gray graphically but written in a manner easy to understand. It’s OK for skimming, but there would be a lot gained by reading it cover to cover, just skipping the few sections that don’t apply to you.

Altogether the information might not be that much different from the superficial skin-care evaluations that in-store demonstrators profess to offer for free, except that (1) Brumberg is not trying to sell you a lot of things you will forget how to use as soon as you get home and (2) if you do forget something, you can always go back and check the book.

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Brumberg also is the author of “Save Your Money, Save Your Face.” These books are available at Barnes & Noble, Costa Mesa, and other area bookstores.