Rafaela Gonzalez’s Gloryscent: The Inclusive, Clean Beauty Brand
Growing up, Rafaela Gonzalez often felt self-conscious about her textured hair and darker skin due to European standards of beauty. However, her journey towards self-love and acceptance brought forth an inspiration to create a beauty brand that serves underrepresented women of color. Thus, Gloryscent was born.
As a “pro-melanin skin-care brand,” Gloryscent is dedicated to centering women of color and providing them with safe and clean beauty products. Gonzalez discovered during the process of creating Gloryscent that the majority of products catered to women of color contained toxic ingredients. One study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology even found that these chemical exposures disproportionately impact these consumers in comparison to white women.
Gloryscent’s mission quickly evolved to offer “inclusivity in clean beauty” and provide women of color with access to health and wellness products that are safe and effective. Gonzalez draws inspiration from her Caribbean roots to serve as the basis for many of her products. By highlighting ingredients from her ancestral home, Gonzalez hopes to honor her “beautiful island.”
The Gloryscent Collection
One of the standout products from Gloryscent’s collection is the Behold Brightening Balm. Made with neem oil, a natural ingredient derived from trees Gonzalez grew up seeing on her island, this product reduces hyperpigmentation and wrinkles while softening the skin. Another popular product is the Soothing Enzyme Cleansing Gel, which features soothing natural additives such as arnica flower extract, willow bark, and organic ginseng. These ingredients help soothe sun-damaged skin, promote exfoliation, and soften fine lines.
Gloryscent doesn’t only offer one or two products, but instead, the brand provides customers with an entire skin routine. Gonzalez believed it was necessary to create and offer a full skincare regimen, so if someone wanted to transition to clean beauty, they would have access to an entire collection. However, creating healthy and nutrient-packed products that define the Gloryscent collection was not easy.
Although Gonzalez had no formal training in skin-care formulation, she 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 ingredients, which was necessary to bring women the effective care Gloryscent now provides.
Inclusive Beauty
In an industry that often sidelines the beauty needs of women of color, Gloryscent’s mission is to provide them with healthier and tailored alternatives to the harsh active ingredients in mainstream products, while also uplifting these women as they are. Gonzalez wants to raise awareness of healthier options for self-care and encourage women to love themselves by providing education and empowerment for them to make the best choices for their wellness.
Gloryscent’s Biggest Accomplishments
In 2020, Gonzalez’s biggest achievement was having Gloryscent’s products available in JCPenney stores. This was made possible through the Thirteen Lune e-commerce site that aimed to boost the visibility of POC-owned brands. Gonzalez still considers this a “huge” accomplishment, but in 2021, she’s particularly proud to host a speaking series on inclusivity in clean beauty.
The series, titled “Let’s Talk Inclusion in Clean Beauty,” is composed of interviews featuring various founders and organizations highlighting the importance of raising awareness about the toxic ingredients in self-care products marketed to Latinx women and other women of color. The interviews aim to educate and not fearmonger, emphasizing the power of knowledge.
Final Thoughts
Gloryscent’s mission is admirable and impactful, and as a brand, it’s no wonder that it’s quickly becoming a fan favorite within the clean beauty industry. Through Rafaela Gonzalez’s personal journey, the brand aims to empower women of color to feel confident, beautiful, and worthy. Her skincare line takes inspiration from her Caribbean roots, and the natural ingredients added in each product serve to soothe and nourish the skin, promoting wellness at the same time.
Overall, Gonzalez’s Gloryscent is a brand that is both inclusive and empowering. By focusing on clean beauty and safe products, she is providing women of color with options that feel tailored and suitable for their unique skin concerns. We can’t wait to see what the brand will achieve next.
