Gloryscent: The Pro-Melanin Skincare Brand by Rafaela Gonzalez
Rafaela Gonzalez grew up feeling self-conscious about her textured hair and darker skin due to European standards of beauty. Her experience shaped her journey toward self-love and acceptance, and the birth of her skincare line, Gloryscent. Her brand caters to women of color by combining the inspirations of her Caribbean roots with clean and safe beauty products. This article delves deeper into the values of Gloryscent and its mission to uplift and empower underrepresented women in the beauty industry while providing safe and effective skin care solutions.
The Inspiration Behind Gloryscent
Gonzalez’s personal experience drove her to create a brand that could cater to women of color and make them feel inspired rather than excluded. The brand calls itself a “pro-melanin skincare brand” that focuses on promoting inclusivity in the clean beauty industry. During the process of creating Gloryscent, Gonzalez discovered that many products marketed towards women of color contained toxic ingredients. A study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology found that exposure to these chemicals negatively impacts women of color disproportionately more than white women. This realization prompted Gonzalez to shift her mission towards “inclusivity in clean beauty,” providing women of color with safe and effective access to health and wellness products.
The Influence of Caribbean Roots
Born in the Dominican Republic, Gonzalez took inspiration from her ancestral home as the basis for many of her products. Her brand highlights ingredients from her beautiful island to honor her roots, such as neem oil, derived from trees that she grew up with. Gonzalez is bringing the Caribbean organic ingredients to people all over the world such as arnica flower extract, willow bark, and organic ginseng. These natural additives soothe sun-damaged skin, promote exfoliation, and help soften fine lines.
Gloryscent’s Line of Products
Gonzalez offers a complete skincare routine rather than just one or two individual products. The brand offers the Soothing Enzyme Cleansing Gel ($56), Total Body Serum ($63), Urbana Elixir ($54), Manketti Oil Serum ($62), and Behold Brightening Balm ($96), all made with natural ingredients mentioned previously. Each product is carefully formulated to cater to the needs of women of color, promoting healthy and soft skin. The newly developed Behold Brightening Balm reduces hyperpigmentation and wrinkles, while also softening the skin.
The Challenges Behind Gloryscent
Formulating skincare products without prior formal training is a challenge for Gonzalez. However, she stresses the importance of providing effective care to women of color by sourcing ingredients and creating nutrient-packed products. Her commitment to the mission of Gloryscent and the well-being of customers pushed her to seek out online schools where she could earn a diploma at her own pace to learn the process of formulation.
Gloryscent’s Impact
In an industry that often exploits women of color’s beauty needs, Gloryscent’s mission of effective care uplifts women by providing healthier, tailored alternatives to the active ingredients in mainstream products. Gonzalez hopes to bring awareness to healthier options of self-care and advocate for women’s empowerment in making the best choices for their wellness. By successfully partnering with Thirteen Lune ecommerce, Gonzalez had her biggest accomplishment last year, bringing Gloryscent products to JCPenney stores. This year, she is hosting “Let’s Talk Inclusion in Clean Beauty,” a speaking series that highlights the importance of raising awareness about the toxic ingredients in self-care products marketed to Latinx women and other women of color.
Final Thoughts
Rafaela Gonzalez’s journey toward self-love and acceptance prompted her to create Gloryscent, a brand that promotes inclusivity in clean beauty. Her mission is to uplift and empower underrepresented women in the beauty industry while providing safe and effective skin care solutions. By combining the inspirations of her Caribbean roots with clean and safe beauty products, she offers a complete skincare routine that caters to the needs of women of color. Her impact in the industry is remarkable as she seeks to advocate for women’s wellness and empowerment.
