Gloryscent: Celebrating Diversity and Inclusive Beauty
Rafaela Gonzalez is the proud founder of Gloryscent, a skincare line that celebrates women of color and their beauty. Born and raised in the Dominican Republic, Gonzalez grew up feeling self-conscious about her textured hair and darker skin, which did not fit the European standards of beauty prevalent in her country. Gonzalez’s journey towards self-love and acceptance led her to create a brand that would serve underrepresented women of color in the beauty industry, which often marginalizes them.
Gonzalez’s vision for Gloryscent is to create a brand that centers women of color and provides them with clean and safe beauty products. During the process of creating her line, Gonzalez discovered the alarming truth that most of the products catered towards women of color contained toxic and harmful ingredients. Studies have shown that these chemicals have a disproportionately negative impact on women of color compared to their white counterparts. Gonzalez’s mission expanded to stand for “inclusivity in clean beauty,” providing women of color with access to health and wellness products that are not only safe but also effective.
Gloryscent’s tagline is “pro-melanin skin-care brand,” and the brand takes inspiration from Gonzalez’s Caribbean roots, infusing natural additives into their skincare products that soothe sun-damaged skin, promote exfoliation, and help soften fine lines. Some of the salient ingredients include arnica flower extract, organic ginseng, and willow bark. The brand’s line of skincare products aims to promote healthy skin and wellness, including the Behold Brightening Balm ($96), which contains neem oil, derived from trees that Gonzalez grew up seeing in her backyard as a little girl.
Gloryscent’s focus on inclusivity is not just limited to the ingredients used in their products but also extends to the brand’s message of empowerment and education. Gonzalez is passionate about creating awareness for healthier self-care options and encouraging women to love themselves while making informed choices about their wellness. The brand’s goal is to provide education and empowerment so that women can make the best choices that suit their wellness.
Gloryscent has received accomplished recognition, and Gonzalez’s most notable achievement was having Gloryscent products sold at JCPenney stores in partnership with the Thirteen Lune e-commerce site that highlights POC-owned brands. Despite this, Gonzalez’s current proudest accomplishment is the “Let’s Talk Inclusion in Clean Beauty” speaking series aimed to host interviews with several founders or organizations featuring the critical importance of bringing awareness about the toxic ingredients in self-care products marketed to Latinx women and other women of color. The speaking series is a platform to educate people and not fearmonger, with five episodes already available, and more to come in late spring.
In conclusion, Rafaela Gonzalez’s Gloryscent is a skincare line that is more than just a product; it celebrates diversity, inclusivity, and empowerment. Gonzalez’s passion for serving underrepresented women of color in the market by providing clean, safe, and effective beauty products continues to motivate her business. Gloryscent is an excellent example of what happens when diverse and inclusive beauty is celebrated, and it shows that diversity should not just be an afterthought; it should be a norm, a necessity, a lifestyle.
