Gloryscent: The Inclusive and Clean Skincare Line Rooted in Self-Love
Rafaela Gonzalez, the founder of Gloryscent, has turned her personal journey of self-love and acceptance into a mission to provide underrepresented women of color in the beauty industry with access to safe and clean health and wellness products that are effective, all while promoting inclusivity in clean beauty.
Growing up in the Dominican Republic, Gonzalez was exposed to European standards of beauty that left her feeling self-conscious about her textured hair and darker skin. It wasn’t until she embarked on her own self-love journey that she realized the importance of creating a brand that centers women of color, rather than treating them as afterthoughts.
Gloryscent prides itself on being a “pro-melanin skin-care brand” that not only centers women of color but also prioritizes the use of safe and clean beauty products. Gonzalez discovered that many products catered toward women of color contained toxic ingredients that disproportionately impacted these consumers in comparison to white women, leading her brand’s mission to expand and evolve into “inclusivity in clean beauty.”
Inspired by her Caribbean roots, Gonzalez infuses her skincare products with natural ingredients like neem oil, arnica flower extract, willow bark, and organic ginseng. For instance, the Behold Brightening Balm ($96), made with neem oil, reduces hyperpigmentation and wrinkles while softening the skin, while the Soothing Enzyme Cleansing Gel ($56), Total Body Serum ($63), Urbana Elixir ($54), and Manketti Oil Serum ($62) feature other natural elements for the ultimate head-to-toe skincare routine.
Creating the nutrient-packed products that would define the Gloryscent collection was not without its challenges. Gonzalez had no formal training in formulation, and there were no physical schools nearby where she could learn, but her determination led her to an online course where she could work at her own pace. Now, as a skincare entrepreneur, she is working toward bringing awareness to healthier options for self-care, encouraging women to love themselves, and empowering them to make the best choices for their wellness.
Gonzalez’s biggest achievement with Gloryscent to date is having her brand in JCPenney stores, accomplished through the Thirteen Lune ecommerce site, which supports POC-owned brands. Equally impressive, Gonzalez is currently hosting a speaking series titled “Let’s Talk Inclusion in Clean Beauty,” featuring interviews with various founders and organizations. The series’ aim is to raise awareness about the toxic ingredients in self-care products marketed to Latinx and other women of color and to provide education and empowerment so that people can make the best choices for their wellness.
In the beauty industry, women of color have often been exploited and sidelined when it comes to their unique skincare needs. With Gloryscent, Rafaela Gonzalez is leading the charge in creating a brand that not only caters to these needs but also uses safe and clean beauty products to promote inclusivity in clean beauty.
