Cookie Policy
This Cookie Policy explains how TopSkinSites.com (“TopSkinSites”, “we”, “us”) uses cookies and similar technologies on this website.
It also explains what choices you have, and how cookies relate to things you’ll actually notice on the site — like the contact form,
our link redirect system (PrettyLinks), and search visibility tools (Google Search Console).
Last updated: 4 February 2026.
18+ only. TopSkinSites is not affiliated with Valve/Steam and does not operate gambling platforms.
1) What cookies are (and what they aren’t)
Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit a website. They help websites remember things like preferences,
keep you logged in (on sites that have accounts), protect forms from spam, and measure basic usage patterns.
Cookies are not automatically “bad.” They’re just a tool. Some cookies are essential for basic site features to work.
Others are optional and used for analytics or marketing/affiliate tracking. The point of this policy is simple:
you should know what’s in play and have control where it’s required.
Similar technologies: Besides cookies, websites may also use local storage, session storage, pixels, tags, and server logs.
We group them together here because they serve similar purposes (functionality, security, measurement, attribution).
2) Why TopSkinSites uses cookies
TopSkinSites is a directory and review site. We use cookies and similar tech for a few practical reasons:
to keep the site stable, to reduce abuse/spam, to understand which pages are useful, and (when applicable) to attribute referrals
if you click through to a third-party platform via tracked links.
| Category | What it does | Is it optional? |
|---|---|---|
| Essential / Functional | Site operation, basic preferences, security features | Usually required |
| Security / Anti-spam | Protects forms, reduces bots, prevents abuse | Often required |
| Analytics | Helps us see which pages work, which need improvement | Often optional (depends on region/config) |
| Affiliate / Link attribution | Tracks referrals when you click outbound links | Often optional (depends on region/config) |
You can learn more about how we make money (and how we keep editorial independence) here:
Affiliate Disclosure.
3) Cookies and systems used on this website
The exact cookies present on your device can vary based on your browser, device, location, and the tools enabled on the site at the time.
Below is a plain-English overview of the systems you mentioned (contact form, Google Search Console, PrettyLinks) plus typical site essentials.
4) Contact form cookies (and what happens when you message us)
If you use our contact form, the site may use functional and security-related cookies or storage to make the form work reliably and to reduce spam.
This can include session-based identifiers, “nonce” values (security tokens), and rate limiting signals.
What we collect through the contact form is what you submit (for example: email address and message content).
We use that information to respond to you and handle your request. We do not want you to send sensitive personal data in a contact form.
If you include sensitive info anyway, you’re choosing to share it.
Typical contact-form related cookie purposes
- Preventing spam and automated submissions
- Keeping the form stable across a session
- Basic security validation so bots can’t mass-post
- Rate limiting (so one device can’t flood the form)
For details about how we handle personal data you submit, see our Privacy Policy.
5) Google Search Console (what it is — and what it isn’t)
Google Search Console is a tool used by site owners to understand how their pages appear in Google Search,
detect indexing issues, and improve technical SEO. It helps us see things like: which pages are indexed,
whether Google encounters errors, and which search queries lead to clicks.
Important clarity: Google Search Console is primarily a reporting tool for site owners and does not normally place cookies on visitors just because we use it.
It doesn’t function like a typical “tracking pixel.” It’s more like a diagnostic dashboard for how Google views our site.
That said, Google as a company may collect information when you use Google products (like Search itself),
and any Google services embedded into a website (if used) can introduce their own cookies or data processing behavior.
If we ever embed additional Google services, we aim to disclose them through our cookie settings and policy updates.
6) PrettyLinks (link redirects and click tracking)
TopSkinSites may use a link management system (PrettyLinks) to organize outbound links, keep URLs clean, and reduce broken-link chaos.
When you click a shortened or redirected link, you may briefly pass through a TopSkinSites redirect URL before landing on the third-party website.
PrettyLinks (and similar redirect tools) can store basic click metadata for operational reasons — for example:
the time of the click, the page where the link was clicked, and technical info needed to troubleshoot link problems.
Depending on configuration, this can be stored as aggregated statistics rather than personal profiling.
Why we use redirect links
- To keep outbound links organized and maintainable
- To fix or update destinations when platforms change URLs
- To measure whether links are actually useful to readers
- To support affiliate attribution in a cleaner, safer way
When you click from TopSkinSites to a third-party platform, that third party may set its own cookies on its website
(especially if you register or log in). Their privacy and cookie policies apply on their side.
Transparency note: some links may be affiliate links. Read: Affiliate Disclosure.
7) Third-party cookies (embedded content and outbound platforms)
TopSkinSites may occasionally include embedded content (for example: videos, widgets, or third-party media).
Embedded content can behave like you visited that third-party site directly and may set cookies or collect information.
Also: our site links to third-party gambling platforms. We do not control those websites.
Once you click out, any cookies or tracking on that operator’s site are governed by the operator’s own policies.
Always read their terms, bonus rules, and privacy details before depositing anything.
8) Cookie table (high-level, because cookie names can change)
Cookie names and durations often change depending on site updates, plugin updates, and configuration.
Instead of pretending we can list every cookie forever, we describe the categories and typical lifetimes.
If you need a precise live cookie list, use your browser’s cookie inspector for the top-level domain.
| Type | Examples of purpose | Typical lifetime |
|---|---|---|
| Session cookies | Keep a session stable, form security tokens, basic site functionality | Deleted when you close the browser (or shortly after) |
| Preference cookies | Remember settings (where enabled), reduce repetitive prompts | Days to months |
| Security / anti-spam | Protect contact forms, rate limiting, bot prevention signals | Minutes to days (varies) |
| Analytics | Aggregated traffic measurement and performance improvements | Days to months (varies) |
| Affiliate / attribution | Referral attribution when you click outbound links | Hours to weeks (varies by partner) |
If you block cookies entirely, the site will still load, but certain features (especially forms and preference tools) may behave differently.
9) How to control cookies
You have multiple ways to control cookies. The exact options depend on your region and on your browser/device.
In general, the strongest controls are in your browser settings.
Browser settings
Most browsers let you block cookies, delete cookies, or block third-party cookies.
You can also clear cookies for a single site without wiping everything.
Tip: If you delete cookies, you may see consent prompts again and lose stored preferences.
Private browsing
Private browsing modes often limit persistent cookies and clear session data after you close the window.
This can reduce tracking, but may also break certain login or preference flows on some websites.
Device-level controls
Mobile devices often provide additional privacy settings at the OS level, including tracking controls and site permission management.
Affiliate tracking impact
Blocking cookies or using strict privacy tools may reduce affiliate attribution. That doesn’t harm your access to platforms,
but it can change whether a referral gets credited.
For how we handle personal data alongside cookies, read the Privacy Policy.
10) “Do Not Track” signals
Some browsers offer “Do Not Track” (DNT) signals. There is no universal standard for how websites must respond to DNT,
and different tools interpret it differently. Where practical, we aim to respect privacy-forward settings and reduce non-essential tracking.
11) Updates to this Cookie Policy
We may update this policy when site tools change (plugins, analytics configuration, consent systems),
or when laws and best practices evolve. Updates will be posted on this page with a refreshed “Last updated” date.
If you continue using the site after an update, it means you’ve seen the latest version. If you disagree with changes,
you should stop using the site and adjust cookie settings in your browser.
FAQ
Some outbound links may be affiliate links, and referral attribution can involve cookies or tracking parameters.
The exact behavior depends on the third-party platform and their systems. See Affiliate Disclosure.
Google Search Console is mainly a diagnostic tool for site owners and does not typically set visitor cookies just because it’s used.
If additional Google services are embedded into a site, those can introduce their own cookies and are handled separately.
PrettyLinks helps manage outbound links and redirects. It can help prevent broken links and support click measurement.
Clicking a redirect link can send you through a short TopSkinSites URL before reaching a third-party platform.
Yes, the site will still load. However, certain features (especially form security and preference tools) may behave differently.
Also, blocking cookies can affect affiliate attribution.
Use the Contact page and tell us what you need. For broader personal data handling, see the
Privacy Policy.