Rafaela Gonzalez: The Woman Behind Gloryscent, a Pro-Melanin, Inclusive, and Safe Skin-Care Brand
Born in the Dominican Republic, Rafaela Gonzalez grew up with European standards of beauty that made her feel self-conscious about her textured hair and darker skin. However, instead of succumbing to societal pressures, Gonzalez used her experiences as a motivation to create a skin-care brand that celebrates women of color’s unique beauty.
Thus, Gloryscent was born, a “pro-melanin skin-care brand” that doesn’t only aim to center women of color, but also focuses on providing them with safe and clean beauty products. During the process of creating Gloryscent, Gonzalez learned that the majority of products catered to women of color contained toxic ingredients. This information led to her brand’s mission to expand and evolve the concept of inclusivity in clean beauty, providing women of color with access to health and wellness products that are safe and effective.
Highlighting Ingredients From Her Ancestral Home
Through Gonzalez’s Caribbean roots, she was inspired to use ingredients from her ancestral home to serve as the basis for many of her products. Her Behold Brightening Balm ($96), for example, is made with neem oil, derived from trees that she grew up seeing on the island.
“When I was a little girl, we had two large neem trees in my backyard. I remember my late grandmother swiping them up into piles when they ripened and fell to the ground,” Gonzalez says. “It’s very memorable because being from el campo, our parents and grandparents are very serious about keeping the yard clean.”
“El campo” refers to the Dominican countryside, the setting for much of the natural beauty that Gonzalez infuses throughout her several skin-care products. 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.
More Than a Brand, A Lifestyle
According to Gonzalez, she felt it was necessary to create and offer a skin routine rather than just one or two products. “If someone wants to transition to clean beauty, they should have the entire collection. That was my train of thought at the time.”
While creating the healthy, nutrient-packed products that would define the Gloryscent collection, Gonzalez faced the challenge of figuring out the formulation for said skin-care items without formal training in the subject.
“Initially, I was completely unaware of the process of formulation, and there were no physical schools I could locate, and frankly not something I [was] able to do because I was already in college,” she says. Still, the lack of resources at her immediate disposal did not dissuade her; Gonzalez found an online school where she could work towards her diploma at her own pace. This is where, Gonzalez says, she 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.
“I’m working towards bringing awareness to healthier options of self-care, building up and encouraging women to love themselves,” Gonzalez says. “I’m hoping to provide education and empowerment in order for them to make the best choices for their wellness.”
The Importance of Inclusivity in Clean Beauty
In an industry that often sidelines women of color and their beauty needs, Gloryscent’s mission is to provide them with safer, tailored alternatives to the harsh and often damaging active ingredients in mainstream products while also uplifting these women as they are.
Last year, Gonzalez’s biggest achievement was having Gloryscent in JCPenney stores, which was done through the Thirteen Lune e-commerce site, which helps boost the visibility of POC-owned brands. She still deems this a “huge” accomplishment, but this year, she’s particularly proud to be hosting a speaking series regarding inclusivity in clean beauty.
The series, titled “Let’s Talk Inclusion in Clean Beauty,” will be 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. There are currently five episodes available, with more to come in the late spring.
Closing Thoughts
Rafaela Gonzalez’s personal journey in self-love and acceptance led to the creation of Gloryscent, a brand that celebrates and caters to the beauty needs of women of color through healthy and effective products. The brand’s extensive use of naturally derived ingredients and inclusivity in clean beauty make it a standout in the skin-care industry.
Through the Thirteen Lune e-commerce site and the “Let’s Talk Inclusion in Clean Beauty” speaking series, Gonzalez has created opportunities to raise awareness about inclusivity in clean beauty and bring healthier self-care options to women of color. With her commitment to education and empowerment, Gonzalez’s work embodies the value of diversity and representation in the beauty industry.
