Subtle Shifts

Lately, in the typewritten notes tucked into our orders, I’ve found myself writing the same line again and again: Wishing you a gentle and beautiful movement into autumn. Usually I feel into the moment, walk over to our Royal De Luxe, and let the words flow. But this season feels different. There is a quiet inevitability to it, an energy of reflection that seems to ask for gentleness.

A few weeks ago, as we were driving, Natalie remarked with a hint of reluctance that the leaves were already changing. It had been a very dry summer, and we soon realized the color wasn’t from the season turning but from the trees drying in the heat. Now autumn has truly arrived. Over our years in the Catskills, we’ve noticed that wet summers bring the most vivid foliage, while dry ones yield softer, more muted tones. Earlier in the season, we weren’t ready for autumn’s arrival. We felt summer ebbing but looked to the trees for reassurance that there was still time, not yet recognizing the quiet difference between parched soil and a genuine shift of season.

When I look inward, I find a similar reflection in the mirror. I ask myself what part of me feels depleted, and what part is simply moving into its next season. The first answer that comes is the optimist in me, the part that celebrates the care I’ve learned to give myself, a kind of care that still feels uncommon for men in our culture.

We created our skincare line to be used by all genders, but I especially encourage men to explore it, as many have grown distant from the impulse to care for their own skin. I’ve lovingly guided several friends through my nightly routine of oil cleansing, toner, and Aeternum, a simple ritual that requires only a quick rinse, conserving water and inviting a slower rhythm. My skin tends toward the oily side, which paradoxically benefits from applying oils to restore balance, yet the cool dry air outside and the warmth of our woodstove inside have me finishing with a touch of tallow to seal in moisture.

If you are feeling the shift in your own skin this season, our skincare collection was created for this moment of transition. Each formula supports renewal and protection as the air cools and dries. You can explore the full collection here.

With each passing day, I feel closer to my own autumn. In the mirror, I notice my beard graying. Running a small business and raising two young children surely play their part, but beyond the silver strands, I can honestly say my skin feels the best it ever has. I’ll turn forty in May, and that feels like no small accomplishment.

My wish for you is to move gently and beautifully into the oncoming darkness, embracing the quieter rhythms that sustain renewal. We cannot experience the abundant expression of spring and summer without the necessary death of autumn. So again I say, wishing you a gentle and beautiful movement into autumn, whether it is this season’s turning or your own.

-Matthew