Privacy Policy
Last updated: September 12, 2026
GlossRadar ("we", "us") operates https://glossradar.com. This policy explains what information we collect, why, and the choices you have.
1. Information we collect
- Account data. If you create an account we store your email address, your chosen username and a salted hash of your password (never the password itself).
- Activity data. Your upvotes/downvotes and the comments you post, together with the time they were made.
- Technical data. Standard server logs (IP address, browser type, requested pages, timestamps) kept for security and abuse prevention, and short-lived rate-limiting counters keyed by IP address.
We do not collect payment information, and we do not track you across other websites.
Newsletter data. When you subscribe, Acumbamail processes your email address and subscription/confirmation status on our behalf. You must confirm your email before joining the mailing list.
2. Cookies
We set a strictly necessary cookie (gr_session) when you sign in. It keeps you signed in for up to 30 days and contains a random identifier only. When you vote without signing in, a functional cookie (gr_vote) remembers your votes for up to 180 days. It contains a random signed identifier, not your email. Clicking the same button again removes your vote. To limit each connection to one vote per deal, we store a keyed cryptographic fingerprint of its IP address with the vote, rather than the raw address. People sharing a connection may be unable to vote separately. If you accept optional analytics, Google Analytics uses cookies (such as _ga) to measure visits, approximate location, device/browser information and clicks to Amazon. We configure these cookies to expire after 180 days. Analytics is not loaded before you accept. We store your choice in your browser for up to 180 days. You can change it using Cookie preferences at the bottom of any page. Rejecting analytics leaves the site fully usable; withdrawing consent stops future collection and removes our Analytics cookies from this browser. We disable advertising personalization and Google signals in our tag. Links to Amazon are affiliate links: when you click one, Amazon sets its own cookies to attribute any qualifying purchase to us, under Amazon's Privacy Notice. We never see what you buy or who you are on Amazon.
3. How we use your information
- To run your account, show your votes and comments, and rank deals by community votes.
- To prevent spam and abuse (rate limiting, removing abusive content).
- With your consent, to understand which pages and offers visitors use and improve the site. We do not send account emails, usernames or comments to Google Analytics.
- To contact you about your account if strictly necessary (for example, a security issue). If you separately subscribe to our newsletter, we send you selected beauty and grooming deals. Creating an account does not subscribe you.
4. Legal basis
We process account and activity data to provide the service you signed up for, and technical data on the basis of our legitimate interest in keeping the site secure. Optional analytics and newsletter subscriptions are based on your consent. You can withdraw newsletter consent using the unsubscribe link in our emails or by contacting us.
5. Sharing
We do not sell or rent personal data. Your username and comments are public. Our hosting provider stores data on our behalf. Acumbamail manages our newsletter subscriptions and email delivery. If you accept analytics, Google also processes analytics data, which may be processed outside your country. We may disclose information if required by law.
6. Third-party services
Deal data comes from a third-party price-tracking service; no personal data is sent to that service. Product links go to amazon.com under the Amazon Associates Program. Fonts may be loaded from Google Fonts, which may log your IP address. When enabled by your consent, Google Analytics processes usage data under Google’s Privacy Policy. Analytics does not tell us which purchases you make on Amazon.
7. Retention
Account data is kept until you delete your account. Server logs are rotated within 30 days. Rate-limit counters expire within one hour. To connect a form request with your email confirmation, we temporarily store your email address with a random confirmation identifier for up to seven days. The address is removed after successful verification. Analytics receives no email address or confirmation identifier and requires your consent. Keyword deal alerts are separate from newsletters. We store your saved keywords, email confirmation and delivery records to send the alerts you request. You can pause or delete your alerts from your account or use the links in each alert email. Delivery records are kept for up to 30 days to prevent duplicate sends. SMTP delivery is provided by Acumbamail. Newsletter details are retained while you are subscribed. After you unsubscribe, a suppression record may be kept to prevent further sends; you may contact us about deletion.
8. Your rights
You can ask us to access, correct, export or delete your personal data at any time. Deleting your account removes your email, username, votes and comments. Email privacy@glossradar.com and we will respond within 30 days. If you are in the EU/UK you also have the right to lodge a complaint with your data-protection authority.
9. Children
The site is not directed at children under 16 and we do not knowingly collect their data.
10. Security
Passwords are hashed with bcrypt, sessions use HttpOnly cookies over HTTPS, and the database is backed up daily. No system is perfectly secure; use a unique password.
11. Changes
We may update this policy; the date above will change and material changes will be flagged on the site.