Rafaela Gonzalez: Founder of Gloryscent, a Pro-Melanin Skin Care Brand
Growing up, Rafaela Gonzalez was confronted with European standards of beauty that often left her feeling self-conscious about her textured hair and darker skin. But today, she is an inspiration to women of color worldwide, thanks to her phenomenal creation, Gloryscent; a pro-melanin skincare brand that is both safe and clean while being inclusive of women of all skin types.
In this article, we will explore Gonzalez’s journey to founding Gloryscent, the brand’s unique mission, and how she gained the confidence to dive into a beauty industry that often fails women of color.
Rafaela’s Inspiration to Create Gloryscent
Rafaela’s personal experiences and journey inspired her to create Gloryscent. She wanted to create a brand that would make women of color the inspiration rather than the last thought in the beauty industry. As a woman of color, she understood the struggles that come with finding safe and effective skincare products for dark skin.
“When I was growing up, there were not many products that catered to women of color,” Gonzalez tells POPSUGAR. “I felt it was essential to create and offer a skin routine rather than just one or two products to bring effective care to women of color.”
Gloryscent: A Mission Driven by Inclusivity in Clean Beauty
Gloryscent’s mission is to focus on inclusivity in clean beauty, providing women of color with access to health and wellness products that are safe and effective while not forgetting the basics of skin care. During the process of creating Gloryscent, Gonzalez learned that the majority of skincare products targeted toward women of color contained toxic ingredients.
One study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology found that chemical exposure has a disproportionately negative impact on women of color in comparison to white women. As such, Gonzalez’s brand’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.
Gloryscent Ingredients: Inspiration from the Caribbean Realm
Being 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 ($96), for example, is made with neem oil, derived from trees that Gonzalez 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,” she 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 Gonzalez infuses throughout her skincare line. Other salient ingredients the brand features include arnica flower extract, willow bark, and organic ginseng, which work together to soothe sun-damaged skin, promote exfoliation, and help soften fine lines.
Rafaela’s Journey in the Beauty Industry
The beauty industry often exploits women of color and sidelines their beauty needs. Gonzalez’s mission 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.
“Working towards bringing awareness to healthier options of self-care while building up and encouraging women to love themselves is our core mission,” Gonzalez says. “We’re hoping to provide education and empowerment so that women can make the best choices for their wellness.”
Last year, Gonzalez’s biggest achievement was having Gloryscent in JCPenney stores, which was done through the Thirteen Lune ecommerce 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.
“Let’s Talk Inclusion in Clean Beauty” is the name of the series, which will be composed of interviews featuring various founders and organizations. They will emphasize the importance of raising awareness about the toxic ingredients in self-care products marketed to Latinx women and other women of color. The series, comprised of five episodes available now, and more to come in the late spring is intended to educate without fearmongering.
Conclusion
Inclusivity in clean beauty is essential because everyone deserves to feel fantastic about their skin tone and texture. Gonzalez’s brand, Gloryscent, stands for inclusivity in clean beauty, and it is impressive how she has used her personal experience to empower women of color. Her journey is undoubtedly inspiring, and her products speak for themselves, proving that healthy, safe, and effective skincare can be inclusive of women of all skin tones.
