Gloryscent: The Pro-Melanin Skincare Brand Empowering Women of Color
Growing up, Rafaela Gonzalez felt self-conscious about her textured hair and darker skin due to the European standards of beauty she was surrounded by. However, her journey towards self-love and acceptance gave birth to a beautiful idea – to create a skincare line that caters to underrepresented women of color in the beauty industry, often ignored by big names. The result of her hard work and dedication is Gloryscent, a “pro-melanin skincare brand” that focuses on providing women with safe and clean beauty products.
Gloryscent aims to be an inclusive brand that represents all skin tones while providing customers with the necessary tools for a healthy and sustainable skincare routine. The brand’s mission expanded as Rafaela discovered that most products catered towards women of color contain toxic ingredients. One study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology showed that the negative impact of such chemical exposure is disproportionately impacting these consumers in comparison to white women. Gloryscent stands for “inclusivity in clean beauty,” providing women of color with access to health and wellness products that are safe and effective.
Born in the Dominican Republic, Rafaela took inspiration from her Caribbean roots to serve as the basis for many of her products. By highlighting ingredients from her ancestral home, Rafaela hoped to honor her “beautiful island.” Her Behold Brightening Balm ($96), for example, is made with neem oil, derived from trees that Rafaela grew up seeing on the island. Natural additives such as neem oil soothe sun-damaged skin, promote exfoliation, and help soften fine lines.
Gloryscent’s offerings include the Soothing Enzyme Cleansing Gel ($56), Total Body Serum ($63), Urbana Elixir ($54), and Manketti Oil Serum ($62), all made with natural elements. The newly developed Behold Brightening Balm reduces hyperpigmentation and wrinkles while softening the skin. All the products have been formulated with clean ingredients, sans the harsh chemicals that cause harm to the skin and the environment.
“I felt it was necessary to create and offer a skin routine rather than just one or two products,” Rafaela says. “If someone wants to transition to clean beauty, they should have the entire collection. That was my train of thought at the time.” While creating the healthy, nutrient-packed products that would define the Gloryscent collection, Rafaela faced the challenge of figuring out the formulation for said skincare items. She did not have any formal training in the subject, and the lack of resources at her immediate disposal did not dissuade her. Rafaela found an online school where she could work toward her diploma at her own pace. This is where she learned how to begin the process of sourcing her own ingredients.
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.
“I’m working towards bringing awareness to healthier options of self-care, building up and encouraging women to love themselves,” Rafaela says. “I’m hoping to provide education and empowerment to make the best choices for their wellness.”
Last year, Rafaela’s biggest achievement was having Gloryscent in JCPenney stores, which was done through the Thirteen Lune e-commerce site, helping to boost the visibility of POC-owned brands. She still deems this a “huge” accomplishment, but this year she is particularly proud to host a speaking series regarding inclusivity in clean beauty. The series – titled “Let’s Talk Inclusion in Clean Beauty” – features 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. Such information could help women make the best choices for their skincare routines.
“This is with the intention to simply educate and not fearmonger,” Rafaela says. “Knowledge is power.”
In conclusion, Gloryscent is a refreshing brand in the beauty industry that caters to one of the most marginalized communities. The high-quality, clean ingredients of their products make it a trusted brand among many women of color. The brand’s inclusivity, affordable prices, and sustainable approach to beauty make it a force to be reckoned with in the beauty industry. As Rafaela says, “Beauty is not a privilege, it is a right.”
