Cookie Policy
Last updated: 14 October 2026
1. What Are Cookies
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently and to provide information to the site owners. We also use similar technologies such as local storage to store your preferences.
This policy explains what cookies and similar technologies we use, why we use them, and how you can control them.
2. How We Use Cookies
Imperial Dermal uses cookies and similar browser storage technologies (such as local storage and IndexedDB) to provide essential site functionality, remember your preferences, and enable embedded content from third-party services. With your permission, we also use local storage to remember referral campaign details and measure resulting purchases. We also count visits anonymously to improve the site unless you refuse, and with your permission we link that activity to your account.
We rely on your consent as the legal basis for setting non-essential cookies, except anonymous visit statistics, which UK law allows unless you refuse them, in accordance with the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) and the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). This policy applies to users in the United Kingdom and the European Economic Area.
We do not sell or share personal data for advertising purposes.
3. Cookie Categories
We group cookies and similar technologies into the following categories:
Necessary
Always active
These are essential for the site to function. They cannot be disabled.
| Technology | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Firebase Authentication | Stores secure session data in browser storage (local storage / IndexedDB) for user authentication | Until sign-out or browser storage is cleared |
| imperial-theme-mode | Remembers your light/dark theme preference | Until changed or browser storage is cleared |
| imperial-cookie-consent | Stores your cookie consent preferences | 6 months |
| imperial-analytics-refused | Remembers that you refused analytics, so anonymous statistics stay off | Until you accept analytics or browser storage is cleared |
| Cart data | Keeps your shopping cart contents between visits | Until the cart is emptied or browser storage is cleared |
| Recent searches | Remembers up to five searches; use Clear in search to remove them | Until cleared in search or browser storage |
| Service Worker / Cache Storage | Browser caching mechanism used for performance and offline support (not a cookie) | Until cleared |
Functional
These enable enhanced functionality and embedded content from third-party services.
| Technology | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Google Maps embed | Displays an interactive map on the contact page showing our office location | Session (set by Google) |
Analytics
PostHog (hosted in the EU, acting only on our behalf) records the pages you visit, product, basket and checkout activity, and errors you encounter. It stores a random identifier in a cookie and local storage named ph_…_posthog for up to one year. Vercel Speed Insights measures page performance without cookies.
Until you make a choice, we use this only for anonymous statistics (such as daily visitors and whether you are a guest, customer or practitioner) to improve the site, as UK law allows without consent. If you accept analytics, we also link your activity to your account (by account number, never your email) so we can see how customers use the site. Choosing Essential only, or turning analytics off in Cookie Settings, stops both and removes the PostHog identifier.
Marketing
When you allow marketing storage and arrive through a referral link, we remember the referral code and campaign details so we can attribute a later purchase. We do not use this information to change prices or product access.
| Technology | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| imperial-referral-attribution | Attributes checkout outcomes to a referral campaign | 30 days |
4. Managing Your Preferences
You can change your cookie preferences at any time using the button below or via the "Cookie Settings" link in the footer of every page. Your preferences are saved locally on your device. We do not store your consent preferences on our servers.
You can also control cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to refuse or delete cookies. Please note that disabling necessary cookies may prevent parts of the site from functioning correctly.
5. Third-Party Cookies
When you enable functional cookies, Google Maps embedded content may set its own cookies on your device. These cookies are governed by Google's own privacy and cookie policies. You can review Google's cookie policy at policies.google.com/technologies/cookies.
We do not control third-party cookies and recommend reviewing the privacy policies of these third parties for more information about how they use cookies.
6. Your Rights
Under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR), you have the right to:
- Be informed about the cookies we use and their purposes
- Give or withdraw your consent for non-essential cookies at any time
- Access information about how your data is processed
For more information about how we handle your personal data, please see our Privacy Policy.
7. Contact
If you have any questions about this Cookie Policy or our use of cookies, please contact us at hello@imperialdermal.com.