Gloryscent: A Pro-Melanin Skincare Brand that Encompasses Inclusivity in Clean Beauty
Rafaela Gonzalez, the founder of Gloryscent, a pro-melanin skincare brand, shares her inspiration and journey towards creating a brand that stands for “inclusivity in clean beauty,” providing women of color with access to health and wellness products that are safe and effective. Growing up, Gonzalez was self-conscious about her textured hair and darker skin due to European standards of beauty. Her journey towards acceptance and self-love led her to create a skincare line that centers women of color and focuses on providing safe and clean beauty products.
Gloryscent aims to cater to all women, but specifically, women of color who often face the negative impact of chemical exposure in mainstream products. Gonzalez discovered during her research that women of color are disproportionately impacted by toxic ingredients found in skincare products. As such, Gloryscent’s mission expanded and evolved to stand for “inclusivity in clean beauty,” providing women of color with access to health and wellness products that are safe and effective.
Born in the Dominican Republic, Gonzalez took inspiration from her Caribbean roots to serve as the basis for many of her products. By highlighting ingredients from her ancestral home, Gonzalez hoped to honor her “beautiful island.” Her Behold Brightening Balm ($96), for example, is made with neem oil, derived from trees that Gonzalez grew up seeing on the island.
Gloryscent offers customers the Soothing Enzyme Cleansing Gel ($56), Total Body Serum ($63), Urbana Elixir ($54), and Manketti Oil Serum ($62), all made using natural elements mentioned previously. Gonzalez believes it’s necessary to create and offer a skincare routine rather than just one or two products, and this thought process led her to create the nutrient-packed products that would define the Gloryscent collection.
Despite having no formal training in formulation or product creation, Gonzalez found an online school where she could work towards obtaining her diploma at her own pace. She also learned how to begin the process of sourcing her own ingredients. The initial hurdle of formulation proved challenging, but she maintains it was necessary to bring women the effective care Gloryscent now provides.
In an industry that often exploits women of color and sidelines their beauty needs, Gloryscent’s mission of effective care is to provide them with healthier, tailored alternatives to the harsh and often damaging active ingredients in mainstream products while also uplifting these women as they are. The brand’s inclusivity in clean beauty aims to empower women of color, providing them with education and encouragement to make the best choices for their wellness.
Last year, Gloryscent achieved a huge accomplishment by having their products stocked in JCPenney stores, which was done through the Thirteen Lune ecommerce site. More recently, the brand has launched a speaking series called “Let’s Talk Inclusion in Clean Beauty,” composed of interviews featuring various founders and organizations. The series highlights the importance of raising awareness about the toxic ingredients in self-care products marketed towards Latinx women and other women of color, and proves that knowledge is power.
In a time where inclusivity and representation are hot topics, brands like Gloryscent are setting the bar high by promoting inclusivity in clean beauty. With a focus on safe and clean products made from natural, ancestral ingredients, Gloryscent is leading the way towards a more inclusive and healthier beauty industry, one product at a time.
