Last Updated: January 1, 2025
Introduction
This Privacy Policy explains how Skincare Awards (“we,” “our,” or “us”), operating as skincareawards.org, collects, uses, shares, and protects your personal information. Our registered address is 128 City Road, London, United Kingdom, EC1V 2NX. You can contact us at [email protected].
This policy applies to all personal information collected through our website, mobile applications, events, communications, and any other services we provide (collectively, our “Services”). We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring transparency about our data practices.
Legal Bases for Processing
Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), we process your personal information based on the following legal grounds: contractual necessity (to provide our services), legal obligations (to comply with laws), legitimate interests (to improve our services and protect our legal rights), and consent (when you explicitly agree to certain processing activities). We maintain records of these processing activities as required by law.
Information We Collect
Personal Information You Provide
When you use our Services, you may provide personal information including your name, email address, postal address, phone number, payment information, company details, and professional credentials. This occurs when you create an account, submit award nominations, register for events, make purchases, or communicate with us.
We also collect any additional information you choose to share through surveys, feedback forms, customer support interactions, or social media engagement with our platforms.
Information Collected Automatically
Through our website and applications, we automatically collect technical information including IP addresses, device identifiers, browser characteristics, operating system details, language preferences, referring URLs, length of visits, and pages viewed. This collection occurs through various technologies including cookies, web beacons, and server logs.
Cookie Technology
We employ cookies and similar tracking technologies for several purposes. Essential cookies enable basic website functionality. Analytics cookies help us understand user behavior and improve our Services. Advertising cookies allow us to deliver personalized content. Preference cookies remember your settings and choices.
Our detailed Cookie Policy, available on our website, provides a complete list of the cookies we use, their purposes, duration, and your control options. You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings or our cookie consent management tool.
Use of Your Information
We process your personal information for the following purposes:
Core Service Delivery
We use your information to operate our award programs, process nominations and applications, authenticate users, process payments, and provide customer support. This processing is necessary for performing our contract with you.
Communications
We send service-related announcements, important updates, and security alerts. With your consent, we may send marketing communications about our services, events, and industry news. Each marketing communication includes an unsubscribe option.
Service Improvement
We analyze usage patterns to enhance our website functionality, improve our award programs, develop new features, and optimize user experience. This processing is based on our legitimate interests in maintaining and improving our Services.
Legal and Security
We use personal information to verify identities, prevent fraud, maintain security, respond to legal requests, enforce our terms, and comply with applicable laws and regulations.
Information Sharing
Service Providers
We share information with trusted third-party service providers who help us operate our business, including hosting providers, payment processors, analytics services, customer support platforms, and marketing tools. These providers are contractually bound to protect your information and can only use it for specified purposes.
Legal Requirements
We may disclose information if required by law, regulation, legal process, or governmental request. We may also share information to protect against fraud or security threats, enforce our policies, or protect rights and interests.
Business Transfers
If we’re involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We’ll notify you of any change in ownership or uses of your personal information.
Partners and Affiliates
With your consent, we may share information with business partners for joint promotional activities or service delivery. We may share anonymized, aggregated data with partners for industry analysis and research.
International Data Transfers
We operate globally and may transfer your information to countries other than your residence. We ensure appropriate safeguards through Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the European Commission, adequacy decisions, or other legally valid mechanisms. For transfers to the US, we comply with applicable frameworks including the EU-US Data Privacy Framework.
Data Retention
We retain personal information for as long as necessary to provide our Services and fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy. Retention periods vary based on the type of information, our legal obligations, and legitimate business needs. When information is no longer needed, it is securely deleted or anonymized.
Your Privacy Rights
European Economic Area (EEA), UK, and California Residents
You have specific rights regarding your personal information:
Access: You can request a copy of your personal information.
Rectification: You can correct inaccurate or incomplete information.
Erasure: You can request deletion of your information in certain circumstances.
Restriction: You can limit how we use your information.
Portability: You can request transfer of your information in a machine-readable format.
Objection: You can object to certain types of processing.
Consent Withdrawal: You can withdraw previously given consent.
For California residents, additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) include:
Knowledge of personal information collected, disclosed, or sold
Deletion of personal information
Opt-out of personal information sales
Non-discrimination for exercising these rights
To exercise these rights, contact us at [email protected]. We’ll respond within the timeframes required by applicable law.
Security Measures
We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your information, including encryption, access controls, security monitoring, and regular security assessments. We maintain incident response plans and promptly notify affected individuals and authorities of any breaches as required by law.
Children’s Privacy
Our Services are not directed to children under 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we learn we have collected children’s personal information, we will delete it. Parents or guardians who believe we have collected information from a child should contact us.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We’ll post the updated policy on our website and update the “Last Updated” date. For significant changes, we’ll provide notice through our Services or direct communication. Continued use of our Services after changes indicates acceptance of the updated policy.
Complaints and Supervisory Authority
If you’re unsatisfied with our response to a privacy concern, you have the right to complain to your local data protection authority. For UK residents, this is the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). For EU residents, you can find your local authority through the European Data Protection Board website.
California Privacy Notice
For California residents, this section provides additional disclosures required by the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA).
In the past 12 months, we have collected, used, and shared personal information as described in this policy. We do not sell personal information for monetary consideration. Some sharing of information for targeted advertising may be considered a “sale” under California law. You can opt out through our “Do Not Sell My Personal Information” link.
Contact Information
For privacy-related questions or to exercise your rights:
Skincare Awards
128 City Road
London, United Kingdom
EC1V 2NX
Email: [email protected]
Governing Law
This policy is governed by UK law. For EU residents, additional protections under EU data protection law apply.