The Beauty Industry Can Learn So Much From Gloryscent and Its Mission of Inclusivity
Rafaela Gonzalez grew up in a world where European standards of beauty dictated what was considered beautiful. As a young woman of color, she often felt self-conscious because of her textured hair and darker skin. But as she got older, she began to embrace her uniqueness and love herself for who she was. Today, she is the founder of Gloryscent, a skincare line that celebrates women of color and their beauty.
Gloryscent’s mission is to provide safe and clean beauty products that are designed for women of color. Gonzalez learned during the process of creating her brand that many products marketed towards women of color contained toxic chemicals that had a negative impact on their health. As such, her 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 takes inspiration from her Caribbean roots, infusing natural elements that soothe sun-damaged skin, promote exfoliation, and help soften fine lines. Her Behold Brightening Balm, for example, is made with neem oil, derived from trees that Gonzalez grew up seeing on the island. Gonzalez also offers customers the Soothing Enzyme Cleansing Gel, Total Body Serum, Urbana Elixir, and Manketti Oil Serum, all made using the natural elements mentioned previously.
But Gloryscent isn’t just about providing one or two products. Gonzalez offers a complete skincare routine that is designed to promote healthy and glowing skin. “If someone wants to transition to clean beauty, they should have the entire collection. That was my train of thought at the time,” she explains.
One of the biggest challenges that Gonzalez faced was figuring out the formulation for her skincare products without formal training in the subject. But she persevered and found an online school where she could work towards her diploma at her own pace. Today, she is proud of the effective care that Gloryscent provides for women of color.
In an industry that often exploits women of color and sidelines their beauty needs, Gloryscent serves as a reminder that inclusivity in clean beauty is possible. By offering healthier, tailored alternatives to the harsh and often damaging active ingredients in mainstream products, Gonzalez is uplifting women of color as they are. “I’m working towards bringing awareness to healthier options of self-care, building up and encouraging women to love themselves,” she says. “I’m hoping to provide education and empowerment in order for them to make the best choices for their wellness.”
Last year, Gonzalez’s biggest achievement was having Gloryscent in JCPenney stores, which was done through the Thirteen Lune eCommerce site. This year, she’s proud to be hosting a speaking series regarding inclusivity in clean beauty. The series, titled “Let’s Talk Inclusion in Clean Beauty,” features interviews with 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. “This is with the intention to simply educate and not fearmonger,” Gonzalez says. “Knowledge is power.”
Gloryscent is changing the beauty industry in significant ways, providing women of color with safe, clean beauty products that are designed for their unique needs. By promoting inclusivity and education, Rafaela Gonzalez is helping women of color love themselves and embrace their unique beauty.
