Rafaela Gonzalez is the founder of Gloryscent, a “pro-melanin” skincare brand that provides women of color with safe and clean beauty products. The brand aims to promote inclusivity in the beauty industry by offering health and wellness products that are safe and effective, avoiding toxic ingredients that can be harmful to women of color.
Growing up, Gonzalez felt self-conscious about her textured hair and darker skin, surrounded by European standards of beauty. Through her own self-love and acceptance journey, she created Gloryscent, a brand that puts women of color at the forefront rather than as an afterthought.
Gloryscent is inspired by Gonzalez’s Caribbean roots, infused with natural ingredients such as neem oil, arnica flower extract, willow bark, and organic ginseng. These natural additives soothe sun-damaged skin, promote exfoliation, and help soften fine lines.
One of the brand’s hero products is the Behold Brightening Balm, which helps to reduce hyperpigmentation and wrinkles while softening the skin. The product is made with neem oil, a natural ingredient derived from trees that Gonzalez grew up seeing on the island.
Gloryscent also offers a range of other skincare products, such as the Soothing Enzyme Cleansing Gel, Total Body Serum, Urbana Elixir, and Manketti Oil Serum. Gonzalez felt it was necessary to create and offer a skincare routine rather than just one or two products to help people transition to clean beauty.
However, creating the healthy, nutrient-packed products that would define the Gloryscent collection proved to be a challenge for Gonzalez, who had no formal training in the subject. She had to find an online school where she could work toward her diploma at her own pace, learning how to source her own ingredients.
In an industry that often exploits women of color and sidelines their beauty needs, Gonzalez’s mission with Gloryscent is to provide healthier, tailored alternatives to the harsh and often damaging active ingredients in mainstream products, while also uplifting these women as they are.
The brand has gained recognition in the industry, with its products being sold in JCPenney stores through the Thirteen Lune e-commerce site, which helps boost the visibility of POC-owned brands. This year, Gonzalez is proud to be hosting a speaking series on inclusivity in clean beauty, featuring interviews with 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.
Through Gloryscent, Gonzalez hopes to provide education and empowerment to women, encouraging them to love themselves and make the best choices for their wellness. Knowledge is power, and with Gonzalez’s dedication to promoting inclusivity in the beauty industry, there is no doubt that Gloryscent will continue to inspire women of color to feel confident and beautiful in their skin.
