Gloryscent: Clean Beauty with a Pro-Melanin Twist
In the beauty industry, women of color have often been marginalized, and beauty products designed for their skin types and textures were considered an afterthought. This exclusion led Rafaela Gonzalez, the founder of Gloryscent, to introduce a skincare brand that caters to the specific needs of underrepresented women of color.
Growing up in Europe, Gonzalez often felt self-conscious about her textured hair and darker skin. However, through her journey of self-acceptance and self-love, she saw an opportunity to create a brand that would celebrate women of color rather than sideline them.
Gloryscent prides itself as a “pro-melanin skin-care brand” that focuses on inclusivity in clean beauty. Gonzalez discovered that most skincare products marketed towards women of color contained toxic ingredients- something she didn’t want to propagate. As such, her mission grew to provide safe and effective health and wellness products for women of color.
The brand is inspired by Gonzalez’s Caribbean roots, and many of the products feature ingredients drawn from the region. The Behold Brightening Balm ($96), for example, contains Neem oil, which Gonzalez derived from trees that grew in her backyard during her childhood days in the countryside of the Dominican Republic.
Through the brand’s Urbana Elixir, Soothing Enzyme Cleansing Gel, Total Body Serum, and Manketti Oil Serum, Gonzalez ensures that customers have access to an entire skincare routine, not just one or two products.
Gonzalez faced a significant challenge of formulating her products without any formal training in skincare formulation. Nevertheless she was relentless in her pursuit of healthier beauty options for women of color. She spent time researching ingredients and sought an online school where she can study at her own pace.
Gloryscent is committed to empowering women and educating them on the importance of self-care. According to Gonzalez, “I’m working towards bringing awareness to healthier options of self-care, building up and encouraging women to love themselves. I’m hoping to provide education and empowerment in order for them to make the best choices for their wellness.”
Gloryscent has made significant strides towards achieving inclusion in clean beauty. Last year, Gloryscent products were available in JCPenney stores through the Thirteen Lune ecommerce site that focuses on boosting the visibility of POC-owned brands.
This year, Gonzalez is proud to host the “Let’s Talk Inclusion in Clean Beauty” speaking series. The series features interviews with various founders and organizations advocating for clean beauty and awareness of toxic ingredients in self-care products marketed to Latinx women and other women of color.
In conclusion, Gloryscent is a pro-melanin skincare line that is committed to providing clean, safe, and effective skincare products for underrepresented women of color. The brand’s ingredients are pulled from the Dominican countryside, home to Gonzalez’s Caribbean roots. Gonzalez is committed to empowering women and educating them on the significance of self-care, and the brand has taken significant strides to achieve inclusivity in clean beauty.
