Rafaela Gonzalez, the founder of Gloryscent, had to confront European beauty standards while growing up. Her textured hair and darker skin often left her feeling self-conscious, with the beauty industry failing to cater to individuals like her. These experiences drove her to create a brand that centers on women of color, serving as an inspiration rather than as an afterthought.
Gloryscent is a “pro-melanin skin-care brand” that aims to provide women with clean, safe, and effective products. During the brand’s creation process, Gonzalez learned that a majority of products targeted at women of color contain toxic ingredients that disproportionately affect these consumers compared to their white counterparts. As a result, Gloryscent’s mission evolved into being inclusive of clean beauty. That is, it aims to provide health and wellness products that are both safe and effective for women of color.
Gonzalez’s Caribbean roots serve as the inspiration for many of Gloryscent’s products. The Behold Brightening Balm, for instance, is made with neem oil that dates back to Gonzalez’s childhood. Her late grandmother would often collect ripened neem fruits that had fallen off the trees and pile them up. This ingredient, along with arnica flower extract, willow bark, and organic ginseng, is found in various products.
The brand’s founder believes that offering a skincare routine rather than just one or two products is necessary for customers that are transitioning to clean beauty. While not having a formal education in formulation, Gonzalez worked towards creating healthy and nutrient-packed products. In an industry that often exploits women of color and sidelines their beauty needs, Gloryscent’s mission is to provide them with tailored alternatives to mainstream products’ harsh and often-damaging active ingredients, while also uplifting women of color.
Gloryscent was available in JCPenney stores last year, thanks to the Thirteen Lune e-commerce site. Gonzalez considers it a huge achievement. This year, she is most proud of hosting a speaking series on inclusivity in clean beauty that features interviews with various founders and organizations. The series aims to raise awareness about toxic ingredients in self-care products marketed to Latinx women and other women of color. Gonzalez stresses that it intends to educate and not fearmonger, providing knowledge for better choices for wellness.
