Cookie Policy.
Last updated: 14 February 2026
What Are Cookies
Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites function efficiently, to improve user experience, and to provide information to the site operators. Cookies do not typically contain personally identifiable information.
Ostar Review uses cookies in accordance with this policy and applicable United Kingdom data protection law, including the UK GDPR and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 (PECR).
This Cookie Policy should be read alongside our Privacy Policy, which provides further detail on how we handle personal data collected via this website.
Categories of Cookies We Use
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are essential for the website to function. They enable core features such as page navigation, secure access to the editorial archive, and the cookie consent banner itself. Without these cookies, the website cannot operate correctly.
Consent required: No — these are activated by your use of the site and cannot be disabled while still using the site.
Functional Cookies
Functional cookies allow the website to remember choices you make and provide enhanced, personalised features. For example, they may remember your cookie consent preferences, your reading position within a long-form article, or whether certain informational panels have been dismissed.
Consent required: Yes — activated only when you accept functional cookies via the consent banner.
Analytics Cookies
Analytics cookies help us understand how visitors engage with the publication — which articles attract the most readers, how long visitors spend on different sections, and from which geographic regions our readership comes. This data is aggregated and anonymised; it does not identify individual readers.
We use this data solely to improve the editorial quality and navigation of Ostar Review. It is not shared with third-party advertising networks.
Consent required: Yes — activated only when you accept analytics cookies via the consent banner.
Third-Party Embedded Content
Certain pages on Ostar Review may include embedded content from third-party services such as mapping services on our contact page. These third-party services may set their own cookies when their content is loaded. We do not control the cookies set by third parties, and their use is governed by the respective privacy policies of those services.
Consent required: Yes — these activate alongside analytics or functional cookies depending on origin.
Specific Cookies in Use
The following table outlines the primary cookies placed on your device when visiting Ostar Review.
| Cookie Name | Category | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| ostar_consent | Strictly Necessary | Stores your cookie consent preferences | 12 months |
| ostar_session | Strictly Necessary | Maintains session state during your visit | Session |
| ostar_prefs | Functional | Remembers dismissed notices and reading preferences | 6 months |
| _ga | Analytics | Distinguishes unique users for aggregated analytics | 24 months |
| _gid | Analytics | Distinguishes users across page sessions | 24 hours |
This list is reviewed periodically and updated when new cookies are introduced or existing ones removed.
Managing Your Cookie Preferences
When you first visit Ostar Review, a consent banner appears at the bottom of your screen. You may:
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Accept all cookies — enables all categories including analytics and functional cookies.
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Accept partial cookies — enables functional cookies only, excluding analytics.
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Functional only — enables strictly necessary and functional cookies only.
You may revisit your preferences at any time by clicking Cookie Settings in the footer of any page.
You may also control cookies through your browser settings. Most modern browsers allow you to view, manage, and delete cookies stored on your device. Please refer to your browser's documentation for specific instructions:
- Google Chrome: Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data
- Mozilla Firefox: Options > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data
- Apple Safari: Preferences > Privacy > Manage Website Data
- Microsoft Edge: Settings > Cookies and site permissions
Please note that disabling certain categories of cookies may affect your experience on this site and limit access to some editorial features.
Opt-Out of Analytics
If you have accepted analytics cookies and wish to withdraw that consent, you may do so by:
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Clicking Cookie Settings in the footer and selecting a more restricted option.
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Installing the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on available at tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.
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Clearing all cookies from your browser and selecting a restricted option when the consent banner reappears on your next visit.
Updates to This Policy
Ostar Review may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in technology, legislation, or our editorial practices. When material changes are made, the "Last updated" date at the top of this page will be revised accordingly.
We recommend reviewing this policy periodically. Continued use of this website after an update constitutes acknowledgement of the revised policy.
Contact Us About Cookies
If you have questions or concerns about how Ostar Review uses cookies, or if you wish to exercise any rights in relation to cookie-related data, please contact us:
Ostar Review is an independent editorial publication focused on everyday wellness practices. The publication is not affiliated with any commercial, governmental, or institutional body.