Rafaela Gonzalez is known for creating the skincare brand, Gloryscent, which caters to women of color. Gloryscent has been developed to provide safe and clean beauty products that are effective and accessible to women of color. Growing up, Gonzalez was confronted with the European standard of beauty which often left her feeling self-conscious about her textured hair and darker skin. In this article, we delve deeper into the story behind Gloryscent and how it has evolved from Gonzalez’s personal experiences to serve the needs of underrepresented women of color.
At first, Gloryscent was something that Gonzalez was inspired to create due to her own journey of self-love and acceptance. She wanted to create a brand in which women of color or WOC are the inspiration rather than the last thought. This groundbreaking brand calls itself a “pro-melanin skincare brand” with an emphasis on inclusivity in clean beauty. This means providing women with access to health and wellness products that are safe and effective.
During the process of creating Gloryscent, Gonzalez learned that the majority of products catered towards women of color contained toxic ingredients. One study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology found that the negative impact of such chemical exposure is disproportionate among women of color in comparison to white women. As such, her brand’s mission expanded and evolved to stand for inclusivity in clean beauty.
Born in the Dominican Republic, Gonzalez took inspiration from her Caribbean roots to serve as the basis for many of her products. Her Behold Brightening Balm, for example, is made with neem oil, derived from trees that Gonzalez grew up seeing on the island. This balm reduces hyperpigmentation and wrinkles while softening the skin. Other salient ingredients the brand features include arnica flower extract, willow bark, and organic ginseng. Natural additives such as these soothe sun-damaged skin, promote exfoliation, and help soften fine lines.
Gonzalez’s skincare line tells the story of her ancestry while catering towards women of color, providing them with products that are safe and effective. The brand is disrupting the beauty industry by catering to underrepresented women of color and putting them first. In fact, the brand’s mission is to uplift and encourage women to love themselves by providing education and empowerment in order for them to make the best choices for their wellness.
While creating the healthy, nutrient-packed products that would define the Gloryscent collection, Gonzalez faced the challenge of figuring out the formulation for said skincare items without formal training in the subject. However, despite the initial hurdle of formulation, Gonzalez found an online school where she could work toward her diploma at her own pace. This is where Gonzalez learned how to begin the process of sourcing her own ingredients, and it eventually led to her creation of Gloryscent.
In summary, Rafaela Gonzalez’s Gloryscent is a pro-melanin skincare brand that caters to women of color. The brand emphasizes inclusivity in clean beauty, providing women with access to health and wellness products that are safe and effective. The brand is disrupting the beauty industry by putting women of color first and uplifting them through education and empowerment. Gloryscent is a celebration of Gonzalez’s ancestry and her journey of self-love and acceptance, ultimately leading to a skincare line that caters to underrepresented women of color.
