Rafaela Gonzalez’s Gloryscent: Empowering Women of Color with Clean Beauty
Growing up, Rafaela Gonzalez often felt self-conscious about her textured hair and darker skin due to the European standards of beauty that were prevalent in the beauty industry. It’s this experience that inspired her to create a brand that caters to women of color and that provides them with safe and clean beauty products. And so, Gloryscent, a pro-melanin skincare brand that centers on inclusivity in clean beauty, was born.
Gloryscent’s mission is to create a brand where women of color are the inspiration rather than the last thought. The brand focuses on providing women of color with access to health and wellness products that are safe and effective. Gonzalez learned during the process of creating Gloryscent that most products marketed toward women of color contained toxic ingredients, which is why the brand stands for inclusivity in clean beauty.
Gonzalez grew up in the Dominican Republic and took inspiration from her Caribbean roots to serve as the basis for many of her products. Her Behold Brightening Balm, which is priced at $96, is made with neem oil, derived from trees that Gonzalez grew up seeing on the island. She hopes this product will honor her “beautiful island.” The brand also features other salient ingredients, including arnica flower extract, willow bark, and organic ginseng.
To expand its mission of inclusivity in clean beauty, Gloryscent offers a wide range of products. Their Soothing Enzyme Cleansing Gel, Total Body Serum, Urbana Elixir, and Manketti Oil Serum are all made using natural elements that are designed to soothe sun-damaged skin, promote exfoliation, and help soften fine lines.
“I felt it was necessary to create and offer a skin routine rather than just one or two products,” Gonzalez shares. “If someone wants to transition to clean beauty, they should have the entire collection. That was my train of thought at the time.”
Creating the healthy, nutrient-packed products that would define the Gloryscent collection was no small feat. Gonzalez faced the challenge of figuring out the formulation for skincare items without any formal training. However, that lack of resources at her immediate disposal did not dissuade her. Instead, Gonzalez 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’s mission is to provide them with healthier, tailored alternatives to harsh and often damaging active ingredients in mainstream products while also uplifting these women as they are. To spread awareness, Gonzales hosted a speaking series regarding inclusivity in clean beauty.
As Gonzales shares, “I’m working towards bringing awareness to healthier options of self-care, building up and encouraging women to love themselves. I’m hoping to provide education and empowerment in order for them to make the best choices for their wellness.” Last year, Gloryscent was available at JCPenney stores through Thirteen Lune ecommerce, which helps boost the visibility of POC-owned brands.
This year, the brand is proud to host the “Let’s Talk Inclusion in Clean Beauty” series, which is composed of interviews featuring various founders and organizations who will highlight the importance of raising awareness about the toxic ingredients in self-care products marketed to Latinx women and other women of color.
Knowing the importance of the right skincare products on self-love and acceptance is crucial, and Rafaela Gonzalez’s Gloryscent is committed to helping women of color take charge of their beauty routines with safe and effective products. Their mission centers inclusivity in clean beauty, and they’re working towards empowering women to make informed choices and love themselves.
