Gloryscent: How Rafaela Gonzalez is Uplifting Women of Color in the Clean Beauty Industry
Growing up in a world that prizes Eurocentric standards of beauty, Rafaela Gonzalez often felt self-conscious about her textured hair and darker skin. Her journey towards self-love and self-acceptance eventually led to the creation of Gloryscent, a skin-care line that aims to serve underrepresented women of color in an industry that frequently fails them.
Gloryscent describes itself as a “pro-melanin skin-care brand” that prioritizes safe and clean beauty products. While it centers women of color, the brand is also committed to inclusivity in clean beauty, providing women of all shades with access to products that are both safe and effective.
Gonzalez, who was born in the Dominican Republic, took inspiration from her Caribbean roots in the creation of her products. Ingredients such as neem oil, which is derived from trees that Gonzalez grew up seeing on the island, serve as the basis for several of her skin-care products.
The Behold Brightening Balm, the brand’s newest product, is made with neem oil and reduces hyperpigmentation and wrinkles while softening the skin. Gloryscent’s other products include the Soothing Enzyme Cleansing Gel, Total Body Serum, Urbana Elixir, and Manketti Oil Serum, all of which feature natural additives such as arnica flower extract, willow bark, and organic ginseng.
What sets Gonzalez’s brand apart, however, is its dedication to providing customers with a complete skin-care routine. “I felt it was necessary to create and offer a skin routine rather than just one or two products,” Gonzalez says. “If someone wants to transition to clean beauty, they should have the entire collection. That was my train of thought at the time.”
Gonzalez faced a significant challenge in formulating her products without any formal training in the subject. However, her dedication and commitment to bringing women effective care ultimately led her to an online school where she could work towards a 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 the harsh and often damaging active ingredients in mainstream products. The brand seeks to uplift women of color as they are and to encourage self-love and self-care.
Gloryscent has already achieved significant success, with its products available in JCPenney stores through the Thirteen Lune e-commerce site. However, Gonzalez is particularly proud of her ongoing initiative, the “Let’s Talk Inclusion in Clean Beauty” speaking series. Through interviews featuring various founders and organizations, the series highlights the importance of raising awareness about the toxic ingredients in self-care products marketed to Latinx women and other women of color.
“This is with the intention to simply educate and not fearmonger,” Gonzalez says. “Knowledge is power.”
Gloryscent is a brand that truly stands out in the crowded beauty industry. With its commitment to inclusivity, clean beauty, and effective care, it is poised to make a significant impact in the lives of women of color.
