Gloryscent: The Skin-Care Line for Women of Color on a Mission
Growing up, Rafaela Gonzalez felt her self-esteem was often undermined by European beauty standards that made her feel self-conscious about her textured hair and darker skin. Her journey of self-love and acceptance led her to create an exclusive line of protective skin-care products, Gloryscent, for underrepresented women of color. This is the story of a Dominican Republic native and her mission to serve the beauty industry’s ignored audiences.
Gloryscent: The Pro-Melanin Skin-Care Brand
Gloryscent is a “pro-melanin skin-care brand” dedicated to empowering women of color with safe, clean, and effective skin-care products. Gonzalez discovered that most beauty products catered towards women of color had toxic ingredients, which disproportionately impacted those consumers compared to white women. As such, her mission expanded and evolved to promote “inclusivity in clean beauty” and provide women of color with access to health and wellness products that were safe and effective.
Gonzalez’s Caribbean Roots that Inspired Gloryscent
Born in the Dominican Republic, Gonzalez took inspiration from her Caribbean roots to serve as the basis for many of her products. By highlighting ingredients from her ancestral home, Gonzalez hoped to honor her “beautiful island.” Her Behold Brightening Balm ($96), for example, is made with neem oil, derived from trees that Gonzalez grew up seeing on the island. The brand also features ingredients such as arnica flower extract, willow bark, and organic ginseng, which soothe sun-damaged skin, promote exfoliation, and help soften fine lines.
Gloryscent’s Complete Skin Care Routine
Gloryscent currently offers a complete skin care routine, unlike other skin-care brands that only offer one or two products. Gonzalez states, “If someone wants to transition to clean beauty, they should have the entire collection.” The company offers products including the Soothing Enzyme Cleansing Gel ($56), Total Body Serum ($63), Urbana Elixir ($54), and Manketti Oil Serum ($62), all made from natural elements. Customers can benefit from the full set of Gloryscent’s healthy, nutrient-packed, and effective care products.
The Challenge of Formulating Gloryscent Skin Care Line
While creating her skin-care line, Gonzalez faced the challenge of figuring out the formulation for said skin-care items without any formal training. She states, “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.” Despite this, Gonzalez took action and found an online school where she could work towards her diploma at her own pace. She learned how to begin the process of sourcing her own ingredients, which was necessary to bring women the effective care Gloryscent provides today.
Empowering Women with Healthier and Tailored Alternatives
Gloryscent stands for effective care by providing healthier, tailored alternatives to harsh and often damaging active ingredients in mainstream products, uplifting women in the industry. Gonzalez’s goal is to bring awareness to healthier options of self-care, building up and encouraging women to love themselves. She also wants to provide education and empowerment to them so that they can make the best choices for their wellness.
Gloryscent’s Achievements and the Future
Last year, Gonzalez’s most significant accomplishment was having Gloryscent in JCPenney stores done through the Thirteen Lune e-commerce site, which helps boost POC-owned brands’ visibility. This year, she’s particularly proud of hosting the speaking series titled “Let’s Talk Inclusion in Clean Beauty” that highlights the importance of raising awareness about 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. Gonzalez believes that “knowledge is power” and hopes to empower women with healthier alternatives to self-care products.
In conclusion, Gloryscent is an ode to the strength and resilience of women of color, and Rafaela Gonzalez has created a brand that not only empowers them but uplifts their beauty needs. Her mission for inclusivity in clean beauty can be felt with every product that the brand has to offer. Gloryscent is a brand that celebrates diversity, promotes good health practices, and empowers women of color to be unapologetically themselves.
