Last updated: October 19, 2026
Essence Vale (“we”, “us”) runs essencevale.com. We welcome readers from around the world, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and the European Union. This policy explains what personal information we collect when you visit the site, why we collect it, and the choices you have, wherever you live. We keep it as short and plain as we can.
What we collect
When you subscribe to our emails. If you sign up for our newsletter, we collect your email address (and your first name, if you choose to give it). We also receive basic information about how you interact with our emails, such as whether an email was opened or a link was clicked. We use this only to send you the emails you asked for and to make them better. Every email includes an unsubscribe link, and you can leave at any time.
When you leave a comment. If comments are open on a post and you leave one, we collect the name, email address and website (optional) you enter, along with your IP address and browser details. Your email address is never shown publicly. Comments are checked for spam using Akismet, a service run by Automattic, which receives the comment and related technical information to do this.
When you contact us. If you email us or use a contact form, we collect whatever you choose to send, such as your name, email address and message, and use it only to reply.
When you browse the site. Like almost every website, our hosting provider automatically records basic technical information such as your IP address, browser type, device, and the pages you visit. This is used to keep the site secure and running properly.
We do not offer user accounts, we do not accept file uploads, and we never ask for payment information. We do not sell your personal information.
Cookies and analytics
Cookies are small files stored by your browser. We use them in two ways:
- Google Analytics. We use Google Analytics to understand, in aggregate, how people find and use the site (for example, which articles are popular). Google Analytics uses cookies and collects information such as your approximate location, device and browser, and pages viewed. We do not use it to identify you personally. You can block it with the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on. Learn more in Google’s Privacy Policy.
- Affiliate links. Some links on the site are affiliate links, including links to Amazon. If you click one, the retailer may set a cookie so that we can be credited if you make a purchase. That information is collected and handled by the retailer under its own privacy policy, not by us.
You can delete or block cookies at any time through your browser settings. Blocking cookies will not stop you from reading anything on the site.
Do Not Track and Global Privacy Control. Our site does not currently respond to “Do Not Track” browser signals, because there is no common standard for them. Where state law requires it, we treat a Global Privacy Control (GPC) signal from your browser as a request to opt out of the “sale” or “sharing” of your personal information.
Affiliate disclosure
Essence Vale is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See our Affiliate Disclosure for details.
Who we share information with
We only share personal information with the service providers that help us run the site, and only as much as they need:
- IONOS, which hosts the website and our email.
- Kit (kit.com, formerly ConvertKit), which stores our subscriber list and sends our newsletter.
- Google, for website analytics.
- Automattic (Akismet), for comment spam filtering.
- Amazon and other affiliate partners, which receive information directly from you when you click an affiliate link.
We may also disclose information if required by law. We never sell or rent your personal information for money. Some US state laws define “sharing” broadly enough to include analytics and affiliate cookies; you can opt out of that at any time (see “Your privacy rights” below).
Where your information is stored
Our service providers store and process information in several countries, including the United States, Canada and the European Union. Your information may therefore be transferred to, and stored in, a country other than the one you live in, where privacy laws may differ. Where required, we rely on appropriate safeguards for these transfers.
How long we keep it
- Newsletter subscribers: until you unsubscribe.
- Comments: for as long as the comment is published, unless you ask us to remove it.
- Emails and messages: as long as needed to respond and keep reasonable records.
- Analytics data: according to the retention period set in Google Analytics.
Your privacy rights
Wherever you live, you can ask to see the personal information we hold about you, ask us to correct it, or ask us to delete it, and you can unsubscribe from our emails at any time.
United States. Depending on your state (including California, Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, Texas, Oregon and others with consumer privacy laws), you may have the right to:
- know what personal information we collect, use and disclose, and get a copy of it;
- correct or delete your personal information;
- opt out of the “sale” or “sharing” of your personal information, or its use for targeted advertising;
- not be treated differently for exercising any of these rights.
To opt out of sharing through cookies, you can block cookies in your browser, use the Google Analytics opt-out add-on, or turn on Global Privacy Control. California residents: the categories of information we collect are identifiers (such as name, email and IP address) and internet activity (such as pages viewed and links clicked), for the purposes described in this policy. We do not collect sensitive personal information.
United Kingdom and European Union. You also have rights under the GDPR, including the right to object to or restrict processing, the right to data portability, and the right to complain to your local data protection authority. We rely on your consent for newsletters, and on our legitimate interest in running and improving the site for analytics and security.
Canada. You can access and correct your information and withdraw consent, and you can contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada if you have concerns we have not resolved.
To make any request, email [email protected]. We may need to verify your identity before acting on it, and we will respond within the time required by the law that applies to you (generally 30 to 45 days). You may use an authorized agent where your state allows it. If we decline your request, you can appeal by replying to our decision.
Children
Essence Vale is written for adults and is not directed at children. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 (or under 16 in the EU and UK), in line with the US Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and similar laws. If you believe a child has given us their information, contact us and we will delete it.
Security
We take reasonable steps to protect your information, including using secure (HTTPS) connections and reputable service providers. No website can be completely secure, though, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. When we do, we will change the “Last updated” date at the top of this page.
Contact
Questions about privacy? Our privacy contact can be reached at [email protected].
