Is this so wrong? When I polled a bunch of parents with newly minted college kids to see if they ever check their kids’ location, the responses were mixed. About one-third of the respondents shared that they “never” check (transparently, one of them was my husband, which I think is hilarious since he has no problem with me giving him updates) but most said they definitely still do — although less frequently than they may have at home.

“I track my kids with Find My iPhone,” said one mom. “They know it and I have no problem with it. If they end up in a ditch on the side of the road I need to find them. The end.” Another mom said, “My daughter (college sophomore) not only shares her location on Life360 with me, but her friend groups share locations with each other!”

So clearly, I’m not alone. In fact, a cross-sectional study of over 700 college and university students published in the Journal of Adolescence found that “digital location tracking is a fairly common practice among college students, with nearly half of the sample endorsing currently or previously being digitally location tracked by their parent/caregiver.” 

But is it healthy? Yes and no, says Debbie Ferraro, LCSW, PMH-C, and a women’s therapist in private practice in New York City who works closely with moms of college kids. Parents are certainly used to checking up on their kids in this way, and it’s a hard habit to break. The important change as kids head off to college, she says, is to talk it through.

“Typically, as late adolescents transition into college, I recommend having a conversation around how to navigate this together in order to come to a shared understanding and clear boundaries for all,” Ferraro tells SheKnows. “Even if your young person doesn’t seem to have a strong boundary around this, it is important to acknowledge to them that there may be some checking happening, as this is an opportunity to keep the lines of communication open. Again, this is a way of maintaining and building trust in the relationship, which is what you want to preserve through this life phase and beyond.”

A “conversation” can be as informal as a dinner table mention: “I’m planning to keep Life360 going while you’re away — is that OK? I just want to be able to make myself feel better that you’re home safe now and again.” (Or whatever your personal reasoning might be.)

But be prepared for objections. Ferraro says that kids heading to college are smack dab in the middle of an important growth period called “separation and individuation.” This involves pushing back on parental involvement in a variety of ways, she says. It’s completely normal, and if your kid objects to your checking their whereabouts, that’s a developmentally appropriate response.

It’s also one you should heed, Ferraro adds. Even though according to Life360’s own study, 94 percent of Gen Zs polled say they benefit from location sharing, your kid may bristle at this notion and ask you not to. If this happens — abide. It doesn’t mean you can’t raise the subject again later, but for now, resist the urge to remind your kid the only reason they’re going to college in the first place is because you’re paying for it, their phone, and their food … and instead see how you feel when you delete the app.

There’s also such a thing as too much parent checking, cautions Ferraro. If it starts to interfere with your life — say, if you can’t fall asleep until you see that your kid is safely back in their dorm every night — that’s an issue. If this is the case, here’s your gentle reminder that this is a “you” problem, and you should seek out a trained therapist who can work with you on fixing it.

That being said, it’s important to acknowledge that this transition is a huge adjustment for us as parents, too, says Ferraro. And if we haven’t quite gotten into the groove of how much checking is too much checking, it will come. (I mean, our parents didn’t have Life360 when we left the house, and we turned out fine … for the most part.) Most of the parents with older college kids I spoke to don’t location-track much at all these days.

As for my own newbie college kid? Luckily for me, she has zero issues being occasionally tracked. In fact, over the first few weeks, she also made sure I had her email login, her school registration password, and her ATM pin — none of which I asked for — presumably so I could help her stay on top of things. However your kid feels about it, give yourself grace, and focus on the important things: like making sure they’re actually coming home for Thanksgiving!

Before you go, check out where your favorite celeb parents are sending their kids to college.

When it comes to pregnancy and postpartum, our skin can do so many things we didn’t expect. Sometimes, melasma happens, acne happens, and everything in between. Dealing with acne can be difficult, but thanks to Anne Hathaway’s makeup-free selfie from Sept 2024, we found out how the stars deal with it: with pimple patches.

In case you missed it, Hathaway shared a selfie with the caption reading, “stars, they’re just like us ⭐️.”

In the photo, we see she’s wearing the StarFace pimple patches, which are on rare sale for only $10 on Amazon today.

As a reminder, these and all the incredible discounts you can score during Prime Day are for Amazon Prime members. If you’re not a member just yet, be sure to sign up HERE to take advantage of all the great savings from Amazon Prime Day 2024, which will take place from Oct 8-9.

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These pimple patches are a dream come true. Made with Hydrocolloid, you can simply apply the patch over their pesky pimple at night and let the magic work while they sleep. Hydrocolloid is clinically proven to improve pimples overnight. And the tiny star shape isn’t just cute — it’s effective. The stars are able to grip difficult spots on the face that other patches might miss, like around the nose and lips.

But there is still so much more to this skincare product. These patches are also great for preventing picking and keeping bacteria away from pimples. Plus, you can feel good about your purchase knowing that this product is cruelty-free. These pimple patches are a total game-changer for those struggling with their acne.

One shopper said, “These work better than other brands for me…. my pimple is pretty much gone after 1 wear. If it’s a big one 2 wears and it’s gone. I also like that I can wear these during the day as well because they are cute.”

“The cutest! They work wonders!” Another shopper added, “Honestly, I think these worked wonders! I just wish they’d stick a little better! I would definitely buy these again! They’re also adorable.”

So lend them a helping hand — order your set of Starface Hydro-Stars acne patches today.

Before you go, check out these stocking stuffer ideas for absolutely everyone on your list:

The former soccer professional posted a new family photo on Instagram today, featuring three of his kids with wife Victoria Beckham. In the snap, David wears a black suit and tie, as he sits on a little stool backstage at one of Victoria’s shows. He’s looking up and smiling at his daughter Harper Seven, 13, who looks gorgeous in a light pink silk dress with a clutch purse. She’s leaning into her brother Romeo, 22, who has his arm around her, dressed in a black t-shirt with matching pants. Cruz, 19, stands with his hand on his dad’s shoulder on the other side, looking dapper in a white button-down shirt with flowy sleeves and blue striped pants.

Everyone looks stunning, which, apparently, was not by accident. “On the way to Mums show and trying to get a picture was a little challenging 😂,” David captioned the cute snap on Instagram today. He then revealed why it was such a struggle, quoting his kids: “Dad before you post it we all have to approve,” he wrote. Oh no! Not the approve-every-single-photo-of-me stage of teendom! How is there so little time between wanting your parents to always snap photos of you to not allowing them to share anything without your approval? Although, Beckham’s young adults are posing for the picture, and sometimes that’s all you can ask for.

“Love you all can’t wait to see you @brooklynpeltzbeckham & @nicolaannepeltzbeckham 🩷 we love you mum and are so proud of you @victoriabeckham 🩷 @romeobeckham @cruzbeckham #HarperSeven,” he added.

“David Beckham is genuinely a good dad. You can tell,” one person commented. Someone else wrote, “You can see how much you adore your daughter 😍 and all your children ❤️ sweet family.”

Although seeing your kids grow up can be bittersweet, it does come with some special moments as well. In an interview with Vogue Australia last month, the former Spice Girl opened up about how much she loves her kids. “We had the best dinner … We woke up this morning and said, ‘We’re so proud of the kids, they’re such great, kind, sweet, humble, funny, hardworking young adults,’” she said.

Letting them approve all your photos is just a small price to pay!

These celebrity parents are sharing the struggle — and sweetness — of raising teenagers.

Over the next couple of months, all teen accounts will be switched to private, their messaging will be restricted, a “bedtime” of sorts will be enforced, and the company will be doing more to make sure t(w)eens are seeing appropriate, enjoyable content.

“They’re an automatic set of protections for teens that try to proactively address the top concerns that we’ve heard from parents about teens online,” Instagram head Adam Mosseri announced today on Good Morning America.

What Are the Features of Instagram Teen Accounts?

By default, all teen users will have private accounts, meaning they will need to accept new followers, and only followers will be able to interact with them and see their posts.

“This helps prevent unwanted contact from people, they don’t know and don’t want to hear from,” Naomi Gleit, head of product at Meta, said at an event announcing the launch of Teen Accounts. “And in practice, tens of millions of teens currently in public accounts will be moved to private accounts. So this is a really big thing.”

Gleit said there will also be “the strictest messaging settings,” so teens can’t receive unsolicited messages from unknown people. Based on the chosen parental controls (more on that soon!), parents can also see who their kids are messaging — although they can’t read the messages. Plus, an anti-bullying feature will be activated to filter out offensive words from comments and messages.

A big concern with teens (hell — people of all ages!) is how often they are on their phones, so there’s also a new feature to limit screen time. Teen Accounts will automatically go into “sleep mode” between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. so kids can’t be scrolling into the wee hours of the night.

Plus, Gleit said teens will get “daily minute reminders” after every hour of usage on Instagram, noting, “We designed these notifications to encourage teens to leave the app or consider if their time on Instagram is being well spent.”

Teens will be limited to seeing age-appropriate topics (no nudity, drug use, bullying, etc.). On the flip side, teens can select topics they are interested in to curate their Explore feed. Parents will be able to see what topics (music, art, sports, etc.) their teen chose via the parental supervision features, which Gleit hopes sparks conversations between parents and their kids.

Any teen younger than 16 who wants to change the new settings will need a parent’s permission via Instagram to do so.

Can Instagram Teen Accounts Settings Be Changed?

“Your teen could ask for your permission to switch from a private account to a public account,” Gleit said. “And to get permission, teens will need to set up parental supervision on Instagram. I really like this design because it creates an incentive for your teens to involve you as their parent, in their Instagram experience.”

Are There Ways for Teens to Avoid Instagram Teen Accounts?

You might be (understandably) thinking, “Well, but teens are crafty — can’t they get around this?”

If a teen attempts to change their birthday or create a new account with an adult birthday, Instagram will ask them to verify their age with an ID, Gleit said. And if they’ve already signed up with a false birthday, Meta is working out the kinks there.

“We are developing a technology to help find those teams and put them in Teen Accounts,” Gleit continued. “So we are looking at signals like who they interact with or what content they’re engaging with to try to predict whether someone is an adult or a teen.

“This really is a big step for us and for the industry and we will definitely make mistakes along the way, but we will continue to try to improve the accuracy of these models,” she added.

What Do Families Have to Do to Get Started With Instagram Teen Accounts?

Teen Accounts go into effect immediately for new users. Existing teen users in the U.S. will automatically see their Teen Account changes within 60 days.

“The biggest input into the creation of this has really been our conversation with parents,” Gleit told SheKnows exclusively. “We are really focused on listening to parents because, at the end of the day, they know their teen the best.

“At the same time, we don’t want to put all the responsibility on parents,” she continued. “That’s why all of these settings are applied automatically.”

Why Did Instagram Create Teen Accounts?

The creation of Teen Accounts comes after an advisory from U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy outlined the harm of social media on t(w)eens’ mental health and after the American Psychological Association recommended new guidelines on social media use for kids. Dozens of states are even suing Meta, alleging the company — which also owns Facebook — is knowingly harming young users’ mental health with their “addictive” platforms.

In June, Dr. Murthy wrote an op-ed for The New York Times saying social media sites should be “required” to have a warning label — like those used for tobacco products — that says the sites are “associated with significant mental health harms for adolescents” and would “regularly remind parents and adolescents that social media has not been proved safe.”

For more information about Teen Accounts, parents, caregivers, and teens can visit instagram.com/teenaccounts.

The I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here co-host chatted with Australia’s Pedestrian TV to break down what popular slang words mean — or, at least, give it his best shot. In the clip, Robert is dressed in a black shirt with a black suit jacket over it. “Low-key, this interview is bussin, no cap, rizz, etc.,” he jokes at the beginning of the clip.

“’Cap’ — I wear those when it’s sunny,” Robert jokes about the first word, before admitting he does know what it means. “That’s a lie, that’s cap!” Other words he explains include “slay” (“what I do all day, every day. Enough said”), “bet” (“yes, absolutely, indeed”), “bussin” (“it’s good”).

But even though he is a Gen Z, he still had some trouble with some slang words — as a millennial who also struggles, this was a relief! He thought “slaps” was a hand game at first, which he helpfully demonstrated with the reporter before realizing it meant something was good. (“That beat drop slaps!”) And he admitted with a laugh that he had “no idea” what glizzy means. Apparently, it means “hot dog” … but thanks to the, um … phallic shape of hot dogs, the term is often used in more suggestive ways. IYKYK!

Elsewhere in the interview, Robert hilariously joked that “delulu” sounds like the name of a dog. He also defended the word “sus,” which means “suspect” or “suspicious.” “See, as Australians, we’ve actually been using this long before the Gen Z of the world said it was cool,” he explained. “Sus has been, forever, ‘a bit sus,’ like ‘suspect; not quite sure about that.’” Pretty cool, right?

They had to explain “gyatt” meant “butt,” making Robert laugh. “I’m never using that, but that’s great,” he said.

“I don’t know what the kids are saying these days, but I’m clearly behind the times,” Robert quips in a twangy American accent. “I’m just gonna leave before this gets out of hand.” He added, “I do not know Gen Z lingo. Eh, I grew up in a zoo. Forgive me.” Amazing! We need to protect Robert Irwin at all costs.

“I gotta up my Gen Z game 😂 thanks for a fun chat @pedestriantv,” he captioned the cute video. Terri commented, “I am definitely a boomer! 😂” She’s not even going to try to understand the younger generation, and honestly, that’s such a mood, Terri!

“’I grew up in a zoo, forgive me’ is the best get out of jail free card I’ve even heard, hahaha,” someone else commented. Another wrote, “This is just confirmation that Robert really is an old man vs 20 years old … I love how he sounds like Gen X instead of Z 😂”

“I GREW UP IN A ZOO 💀💀💀Robert Irwin, never ever change,” one person said. Another commented, “The American accent at the end pulled it all together 😂😂”

Even if he doesn’t know all the slang, Robert often shows his funny personality on social media. Like when his older sister Bindi Irwin turned 26 last month, he shared a video of his birth to troll her. In the cute clip, the Crocodile Hunter tells his daughter that her baby brother was born, and she looks so excited.

Later, she holds a bowl of ice cream in one hand and her brother in the other, confidently telling her parents, “I’ll call him Brian!” Steve tries to correct her, telling Bindi that his name is Robert, and she responds, “But I’ll call him Brian for short.” Already trolling her baby brother, and he’s not even one day old!

“Happy birthday, Bindi … love, Brian,” Robert captioned the post. Even when he tried to steal the attention on his sister’s special day by posting his own birth, Robert’s post showed how cute and silly Bindi is. They may rib on each other, but you can tell how much love they share, too. Now that’s bussin.

These celebrity parents are sharing the struggle — and sweetness — of raising teenagers.

I can hardly believe that now I have a child going into high school. I’m experiencing a mix of excitement and dread. Will she be safe, happy, and engaged? Will she find her people — good friends who make good choices? How will she handle adversity, the inevitable pressures that come with growing up? I know my experience won’t be hers — thankfully — but I still can’t help but worry.

There’s absolutely no question why so many television shows and movies focus on high school, angsty teens, and loads of drama. High school is a pivotal time in a person’s life, whether that experience is good, bad, or (most likely) a mix of both. As my daughter edges toward her first day of high school, here’s what I want her to know.

It’s Okay To Be Who You Are

I don’t remember many of the popular kids from high school, mostly because they only hung out with other popular kids. Rather, I remember those who were individualistic — those who paved their own way and bravely were themselves. I don’t want my daughter to expend time and energy trying to gain the approval of her peers and “fit in,” because this always comes at a cost. Instead, I want her to be who she is, openly and proudly. She’s artistic, inclusive, interested in history, and hopeful to try new things, like the dance team. I also want her to know that these interests and her personality may be the very things that lead her to a college major or future job!

This is a Season of Growth

Growth can be deeply painful, because learning lessons — and I’m not just talking about academic — is often unpleasant. High schoolers are going to make loads of mistakes, which is exactly what will spur growth in them. I don’t expect my child’s high school years to be drama-free (not even close), but I want her to know that some “drama” is normal and even healthy. If she doesn’t make mistakes or face failures, she won’t make gains. This means imperfect grades, working on projects with people she doesn’t like, and making the wrong decisions.

Carefully Select Your Friends

A person’s circle of friends not only says a lot about the person, but it also influences them. It’s good to be friend-picky. A person can be friendly with everyone, as long as they are safe people, but that doesn’t mean everyone who is nice to a person is worthy of being their friend. Also, I don’t want my daughter to limit herself to friends who are similar to her. My own circle of friends, now as an adult, includes people of different ages, races, religions, and income levels. I love learning from them, especially when their perspectives and experiences are far different than mine. Friendships are opportunities for growth.

Prioritize Your Mental Health

Anxiety and depression are rampant among kids today. Though not all mental health disorders are preventable, prioritizing one’s mental health is critically important. If a high schooler’s mental state is unwell, eventually they will crash and burn. I want to continue to show my child that therapy is always a healthy option. Staying off social media, or greatly limiting it, and instead focusing on real-life activities like friendships and extracurriculars, can be beneficial. When she’s struggling, she has to speak up to a trusted adult, and then be courageous in seeking help.

Physical Health Matters, Too

Much like with mental health, if a high schooler’s physical health is suffering, they’re going to struggle. We have raised our kids to know that quality and enough sleep, unstructured time for relaxing, exercise, and a balanced diet all contribute to their overall health. Plus, exercise has mental health benefits, too. Though it won’t be easy to get herself to bed at a decent hour or pack a healthy lunch, these choices can add up and have a positive impact on her high school experience.

It’s Fine Not to Date

I have a cousin who chose not to date in high school or college, instead focusing on her education and traveling. She waited until after her college graduation to date, and now she’s married (and still adding to her education and travel schedule). I share this with my kids to say that if they don’t want to date, that’s fine. If they want to date, that’s perfectly normal and OK; however, finding their “perfect match” should never be their top priority, especially when they’re in high school. Sure, dating can be fun, but it also comes with its fair share of heartache and distraction. We also reemphasize things like boundaries and consent — because high schoolers certainly like to act grown without being grown.

Mainly, I want my high schooler, as well as her three younger siblings who will eventually be high schoolers, to have an amazing experience. I hope that the next four years are full of opportunities and growth for my daughter. Even though I cannot control her high school experience, I will remain diligent in offering support, guidance, and love through it all.

It turns out, luxury isn’t always about the price tag — or the target demographic. Just ask the women in their 40s who are swapping their high-end concoctions for the Bubble Skincare Deep Dive Exfoliating Mask. The $18 exfoliating mask, which was a “2022 Acne Awards Winner,” is designed with breakout prone teens in mind — but it turns out moms are loving the gentle-but-effective exfoliant, too.

So, what makes this mask so special? For starters, it’s packed with a combination of powerful exfoliants that very gently smooth skin. The AHA blend lightly exfoliates the top layer of skin, sloughing off dead cells to reveal a brighter complexion. PHA, another mild exfoliating acid, is perfect for those with sensitive skin, providing the benefits of exfoliation minus the red and irritated aftermath. Azelaic acid clears skin imperfections, while willow bark extract calms redness and reduces oiliness. Fruit enzymes break down dead skin cells, ensuring skin feels soft and smooth after every use.

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And the reviews? They’re glowing just as much as the customers say their skin is after using the gentle facial exfoliant. One customer shared how their child recommended the product. At 49, they thought only fancy products could help their skin, but Bubble proved them wrong: “My child recommended these products to me. I’m 49 and thought my skin needed fancy expensive products to be healthy. I was so wrong. Bubble products are amazing and I can’t stop recommending them to others. Soft, natural AND effective. I love everything about them and my skin is glowing and beautiful.”

Another fan loved how they got the anti-aging benefits without irritating their sensitive skin. “This is a great anti-aging treatment that isn’t too harsh. I use this twice a week and unlike other exfoliating masks this doesn’t burn my skin. Probably the best exfoliating mask I’ve tried and I’ve tried a lot over the last 5 years. This is my favorite product.”

For those dealing with bumps and uneven texture, the results speak for themselves. “I only used it a couple times but so far I love it! It smells so good and tingles a bit while you’re using it but hasn’t caused any sensitivity. My skin did purge but nothing serious and now my acne bumps and uneven texture are clearing up revealing soft, smooth skin.”

Who knew that teens and moms alike could find such a stellar skincare solution all wrapped up in one affordable, effective mask? The Bubble Skincare Deep Dive Exfoliating Mask proves that the price of quality skincare doesn’t have to go up as we age.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below: 

Yesterday, a month after finishing her final treatment, she shared the best news:

“It was a great, great scan,” Isabella said in a YouTube vlog. “Cancer-free. And everything is great.”

CANCER! FREAKIN’! FREE! We couldn’t be happier for Isabella and the Strahan family, and it’s clear that she’s feeling the same way.

The University of Southern California student also shared a photo of herself smiling blissfully in a grassy field on her Instagram Story. She’s posing with her arms up, hands resting below her chin, and there’s just no way to truly describe the peaceful glow radiating from her. (E! News has a screenshot HERE.)

The only thing that admittedly has Isabella feeling down is that she already misses her doctors and “everyone who’s helped.”

“Because they’re all so nice,” she said. “I feel like I’m just saddened today knowing that I wasn’t gonna be going back for a while ’cause I love them so much.”

A month ago, the teen posted a carousel of photos celebrating her last chemo treatment. “After the wildest 8 months, I finally got to ring the bell. Grateful for my journey 🩶,” she captioned the post.

And the photo of her ringing the bell — a tradition that many hospitals have for when cancer patients finish their treatment — just might be the most heartwarming thing you’ll ever see. She has the biggest open-mouth smile, a gold crown on her head, a gold pompom in her hand (the one that isn’t busy ringing the bell!), and bubbles floating in front of her. It’s the definition of exuberance.

Strahan — who shares Isabella’s twin sister Sophia with wife Jean Muggli and kids Tanita and Michael Jr., with ex Wanda Hutchins —also posted at the time, sharing a video of that beautiful moment. “@isabellastrahan you are a SUPERWOMAN! Ringing that bell finishing chemo and on your way! 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 You continue to fight with a smile on your face, strength, and determination. I am one proud Dad! Love you, Bella ❤️❤️”

A proud dad who must now be breathing the biggest sigh of relief and gratitude.

David and Victoria both posted a touching video that showed throwback photos and videos of their only daughter set to “Just The Way You Are” by Bruno Mars. In the montage, there are clips of baby Harper seemingly taking some of her first steps, an older Harper at ballet lessons, shots of her snuggling up with brothers Brooklyn, Cruz, and Romeo, and that clip we love from that infamous Harry Styles concert.

“Happy 13th Birthday to my beautiful little girl 🩷,” David captioned his post. “Daddy is so proud of you , you have grown up to be a kind, generous & a beautiful young lady with the most amazing heart & the most amazing smile that we all love so so much 🩷 … your [sic] my world 🌍,” he continued.

There’s also footage of family dance parties, ones of Harper on the soccer field (trying to, ya know, bend it like Beckham), one of her using some of her mom’s makeup, and priceless shots throughout the years. Best of all, instead of ending on one of the most recent stunning family photos, it ends on a hilarious throwback of a young and grumpy Harper.

“Happy Birthday to my best friend,” Victoria captioned her own post. “You are sweet and kind and your smile warms our hearts every day 😊 You really are our everything Harper Seven and we are so proud of the happy, beautiful, talented young lady you are becoming.”

Posh Spice also posted a video of a young Harper dancing in the back of a car. She looks so silly and carefree, and something about it is just so sweet and intimate. “Yep… She gets it from her mummy!!! 😂😂 … Never stop smiling or DANCING!!! You are my world xxxxx Kisses mummy”

Harper also got some love from brothers Cruz and Romeo who each posted their own birthday tribute for their little sis. “Happy 13th birthday harps can’t believe your [sic] a teenager 🤍,” Romeo captioned a sweet selfie of him and his sister.

And same. We know we’ve been saying for a while now that Harper looks so grown up, but there’s just something different about her actually reaching this milestone birthday. And it’s a big deal. And so we’re sending big happy birthday wishes to the newly-minted teen!

I’m a 21-year-old woman who’s admittedly not a fragrance aficionado. Still, I never anticipated receiving a crash course in cologne from teenagers, let alone two teenage boys. Clive and Joan, my subjects for the day, accompanied me to Sephora and Bond No. 9 as part of SheKnows’s “Be a Man” series, which looks at modern masculinity through the unique lens of the teenage boys navigating it. 

According to a recent survey by Piper Sandler, teen boys’ annual spending on fragrance has increased by 26 percent since last spring. Watching Clive and Joan in action, this information doesn’t seem surprising. Teen boys — or at least these two — are genuinely invested in how they smell and as a result, have become fragrance experts. What does surprise me was that the boys already seem to have expanded their noses beyond the Sephora cologne section. Standing next to a seemingly vast collection, with some bottles costing upwards of $200, Clive admits, “My colognes aren’t really in here.”

The boys also mention that they don’t necessarily gravitate towards especially masculine fragrances. “All my colognes are unisex,” Clive says. They’re not alone in feeling that way: a recent McKinsey report looking into the beauty industry found that roughly 40 percent of Gen-Z consumers prefer gender-neutral beauty products, compared to around 30 percent of older generations. When I ask how they choose what cologne to buy, Joan responds, “It’s the one that smells like you,” — sage advice that I squirrel away for my next fragrance purchase. 

Seeming to tire of my consistent shock at the price tags, the boys reveal that they typically find a scent that they like in person and then search for a discounted version online before opening up their wallets. Bottles damaged in production are often significantly cheaper, even though the fragrance itself is untouched. Free samples are also at the boy’s disposal, allowing them to build their cologne arsenal without breaking the bank. “You know how people collect wine and don’t drink it? It’s kind of like that,” Clive says of his own collection.

They know a ridiculous amount about fragrance, pulling phrases and names out of thin (and heavily scented) air. I had to google what “EDC” meant after hearing it so many times, and then promptly felt like an idiot (it’s Eau de Cologne). They also mention a cologne store that, in their opinion, is even better than Sephora, and naturally, I’m intrigued.

After a 20-minute walk and some increasingly excited commentary from the boys, we arrive at Bond No. 9, a boutique that offers a variety of scents, many of which are named after New York neighborhoods. With the help of a sales associate Clive had met during his last trip to the store, the boys spritz and sniff and ask various questions such as, “What are your favorite beach scents?” What followed was a discussion about the merits of coconut in a fragrance (considered a plus).

It’s a decidedly less hectic experience than the one we had in Sephora, and the boys seem right at home in this luxurious setting, which was a testament to their fragrance preferences. We leave with hands full of samples that are wrapped up like candy and make promises to return. Honestly, I think I will. My outing with these teen boys was educational, and I now know where to look if I want to smell like lychee, cassis, mandarin… or all three!