Gloryscent: The Skin-Care Brand Uplifting Women of Color
Rafaela Gonzalez, the founder of Gloryscent, has always known the harsh reality of the beauty industry’s failure to represent and serve women of color. Growing up in a world where European standards of beauty dominated the narrative, causing her to feel self-conscious about her textured hair and darker skin, Gonzalez found her inspiration to create “a brand in which WOC are the inspiration rather than the last thought.”
Gloryscent, a “pro-melanin skin-care brand,” is the culmination of Gonzalez’s self-love and acceptance journey. It aims to provide women of color with safe and clean beauty products while centering their needs and representation. During the process of creating Gloryscent, Gonzalez learned that products catered towards women of color typically contain toxic and harmful ingredients. Her brand’s mission expanded and evolved to stand for “inclusivity in clean beauty,” providing women of color with access to healthy and effective health and wellness products.
From her Caribbean roots, Gonzalez drew inspiration for ingredients for her products. Her Behold Brightening Balm, for example, contains neem oil, which she derived from trees that grew in her ancestral home. Other natural ingredients such as arnica flower extract, willow bark, and organic ginseng soothe sun-damaged skin, promote exfoliation, and help soften fine lines.
Rather than offering just one or two products, Gonzalez felt it was necessary to create and offer a whole skin routine to help with the transition to clean beauty. Though she faced the challenge of figuring out the formulation for Gloryscent’s skin-care items without a formal training in the industry, she found an online school where she could work toward her diploma at her own pace.
In an industry that often exploits women of color and sidelines their beauty needs, Gloryscent stands out with its mission of effective care, healthier alternatives, and empowerment of women. Its products offer tailored solutions to the harsh and often damaging active ingredients in mainstream products. Gonzalez hopes to provide education and empowerment for women to make the best choices for their wellness.
Gonzalez’s efforts have been recognized and appreciated, with Gloryscent being featured in JCPenney stores through the Thirteen Lune e-commerce site that boosts the visibility of POC-owned brands. In addition to this, she has initiated a speaking series titled “Let’s Talk Inclusion in Clean Beauty,” featuring various founders and organizations. The series aims to highlight the importance of raising awareness about toxic ingredients and educate people, without fearmongering.
With its focus on inclusivity and clean beauty, Gloryscent stands out as a brand that cares not only about the quality of the products but also uplifting women of color. Its products are a testament to the fact that effective care, natural ingredients, and inclusivity can all coexist.
