Gloryscent is a pro-melanin skin-care brand that was created with the aim of centering women of color in the beauty industry. It was founded by Rafaela Gonzalez, who grew up feeling self-conscious about her textured hair and darker skin due to European standards of beauty. Her journey towards self-love and acceptance inspired her to create a brand that celebrates the beauty of women of color.
Gloryscent focuses on providing women with safe and clean beauty products. During the process of creating the brand, Gonzalez found that the majority of products catered toward women of color contained toxic ingredients. One study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology found that the negative impact of such chemical exposure is disproportionately affecting these consumers in comparison to white women.
As such, Gloryscent’s mission expanded to stand for “inclusivity in clean beauty,” providing women of color with access to health and wellness products that are safe and effective. 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.”
Gloryscent offers a variety of skin-care products, such as the Behold Brightening Balm, which is made with neem oil, derived from trees that Gonzalez grew up seeing on the island. The brand also offers customers the Soothing Enzyme Cleansing Gel, Total Body Serum, Urbana Elixir, and Manketti Oil Serum. Gonzalez believes that it’s necessary to create and offer a skin routine rather than just one or two products.
The lack of resources at her immediate disposal did not dissuade her; Gonzalez found an online school where she could work toward her diploma at her own pace. She learned how to begin the process of sourcing her own ingredients. The initial hurdle of formulation proved challenging, but she maintains it was necessary to bring women the effective care Gloryscent now provides.
In an industry that often exploits women of color and sidelines their beauty needs, Gloryscent’s mission of effective care is to provide them with healthier, tailored alternatives to the harsh and often damaging active ingredients in mainstream products while also uplifting these women as they are.
Gonzalez’s biggest achievement was having Gloryscent in JCPenney stores, which was done through the Thirteen Lune ecommerce site, which helps boost the visibility of POC-owned brands. This year, she’s particularly proud to be hosting a speaking series regarding inclusivity in clean beauty. The series, titled “Let’s Talk Inclusion in Clean Beauty,” will be composed of interviews featuring various founders and organizations, who will highlight the importance of raising awareness about the toxic ingredients in self-care products marketed to Latinx women and other women of color.
The ultimate goal for Gonzalez is to bring awareness to healthier options of self-care, building up and encouraging women to love themselves. She’s hoping to provide education and empowerment in order for them to make the best choices for their wellness.
In conclusion, Gloryscent is an inspiring and empowering brand that celebrates the beauty of women of color. Gonzalez’s personal journey towards self-love and acceptance inspired her to create a brand that provides safe and clean beauty products. The brand’s mission expanded to stand for “inclusivity in clean beauty,” providing women of color with access to health and wellness products that are safe and effective. Gonzalez believes that it’s necessary to create and offer a skin routine rather than just one or two products. The brand has achieved a lot, and Gonzalez’s ultimate goal is to bring awareness to healthier options of self-care, building up and encouraging women to love themselves.
