This Cookie Policy explains how Derma Sense uses cookies and similar technologies on our website. It should be read alongside our Privacy Policy, which sets out how we handle the personal data those tools collect.
01What cookies are
Cookies are small text files that a website places on your device when you visit. They allow the site to remember things about your visit, such as your preferences, login session, or how you arrived. Similar technologies include pixels, local storage, session storage, and tracking scripts. In this policy, "cookies" refers to all of these.
02Categories of cookies we use
- Strictly necessary (essential)
- Cookies required for the site to function. They support cart and checkout, security, fraud prevention, and accessibility. We set these without consent because the site cannot work without them.
- Analytics
- Cookies that tell us how visitors use the site so we can improve it. We use Google Analytics 4. These are set only with your consent.
- Advertising
- Cookies and pixels that help measure the performance of our advertising and show you relevant content on other platforms. We use the Meta (Facebook and Instagram) Pixel and the Google Ads conversion tag. These are set only with your consent.
- Functional
- Cookies that remember preferences such as currency or language. Some are strictly necessary; some require consent depending on the data they store.
03Cookies we set
Cookie names and lifetimes change as providers update their products. The current set is shown below for transparency.
| Name | Provider | Category | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| _shopify_y, _y | Shopify (this site) | Essential | Tracks unique visitors to balance load and provide analytics required to operate the store. | 1 year |
| _shopify_s, _s | Shopify (this site) | Essential | Tracks visits within a session for cart and checkout to work. | 30 minutes |
| cart, cart_sig, cart_ts | Shopify (this site) | Essential | Keeps the contents of your basket between pages. | 14 days |
| secure_session_id, _shopify_sa_p, _shopify_sa_t | Shopify (this site) | Essential | Security and storefront analytics required for safe operation. | Session - 24 hours |
| _ga, _ga_* | Google Analytics 4 | Analytics | Distinguishes users and sessions to produce aggregated usage reports. | Up to 13 months |
| _fbp | Meta (Facebook / Instagram) | Advertising | Used by the Meta Pixel to attribute conversions and to build advertising audiences. | 3 months |
| _gcl_au, _gcl_aw | Google Ads | Advertising | Used by the Google Ads conversion tag to attribute conversions to ad clicks. | 3 months |
| preferences | Shopify (this site) | Functional | Remembers cookie consent and basic site preferences. | 12 months |
This table is not exhaustive. Shopify, Google, and Meta may set additional cookies for fraud prevention, performance, or product testing. You can inspect the full set in your browser's developer tools.
04Third party cookies
Some pages may embed content from third parties (for example, video, social media posts, maps). These providers may set their own cookies that we do not control. We list the main third parties below.
- Google (GA4, Google Ads, YouTube embeds, Google Maps). Privacy notice: policies.google.com/privacy.
- Meta (Facebook, Instagram Pixel, embedded posts). Privacy notice: facebook.com/privacy/policy.
- Shopify (storefront, checkout, payments). Privacy notice: shopify.com/legal/privacy.
- Stripe (card payments). Privacy notice: stripe.com/gb/privacy.
- Treatwell (booking). Privacy notice: treatwell.co.uk/privacy.
05Your consent & choices
The first time you visit the site, you can choose to accept all cookies, reject non essential cookies, or set preferences by category. You can change your choices at any time by clearing your cookies and revisiting the site, or by emailing privacy@dermasense.co.uk.
Withdrawing consent does not affect any processing that took place before withdrawal. Essential cookies cannot be switched off because the site cannot function without them.
06Manage cookies in your browser
- Google Chrome
- Apple Safari (Mac)
- Apple Safari (iPhone & iPad)
- Mozilla Firefox
- Microsoft Edge
- Your Online Choices (UK) for industry wide advertising opt outs.
07Legal basis
We rely on consent under the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) for analytics and advertising cookies. For strictly necessary cookies we rely on the "strictly necessary" exemption under PECR. Where cookies process personal data, we rely on the lawful bases set out in our Privacy Policy.
08Changes
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time. The version in force is shown at the top of this page.
09Contact
Email privacy@dermasense.co.uk with any cookie or tracking related question. We respond within one working day.