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. Founded by Rafaela Gonzalez, a Dominican Republic native and an advocate for inclusivity in clean beauty, Gloryscent is a “pro-melanin skin-care brand” that focuses on providing women with safe and clean beauty products.
Growing up, Gonzalez was constantly confronted with European standards of beauty, which often left her feeling self-conscious about her textured hair and darker skin. Her skin-care line, Gloryscent, is the culmination of her self-love and acceptance journey, born out of a desire to serve underrepresented women of color in a beauty industry that more often than not fails them. Gonzalez’s aim is to create a brand in which WOC are the inspiration rather than the last thought.
Gloryscent doesn’t solely aim to center women of color; it also focuses on providing women with safe and clean beauty products. During the process of creating Gloryscent, Gonzalez learned 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 impacting these consumers in comparison to white women. As such, her brand’s mission expanded and evolved to stand for “inclusivity in clean beauty,” providing women of color with access to health and wellness products that are safe and effective.
Taking cues from her Caribbean roots, Gonzalez uses natural ingredients in all her products, many of which are inspired by the beautiful island of the Dominican Republic. Behold Brightening Balm, for example, is made with neem oil, derived from trees that Gonzalez grew up seeing on the island. Other ingredients used by the brand include arnica flower extract, willow bark, and organic ginseng, all of which soothe sun-damaged skin, promote exfoliation, and help soften fine lines. The brand offers a range of products including Soothing Enzyme Cleansing Gel, Total Body Serum, Urbana Elixir, and Manketti Oil Serum, all made using the natural elements mentioned previously.
Gonzalez felt that it was necessary to create and offer a skin routine rather than just one or two products. “If someone wants to transition to clean beauty, they should have the entire collection,” she says. While creating the healthy, nutrient-packed products that would define the Gloryscent collection, Gonzalez faced the challenge of figuring out the formulation for skin-care items without formal training in the subject. Still, the lack of resources at her immediate disposal did not dissuade her, and she found an online school where she could work toward her diploma at her own pace. This is where Gonzalez 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.
Last year, Gonzalez’s biggest achievement was having Gloryscent in JCPenney stores, which was done through the Thirteen Lune ecommerce site, a platform that helps boost the visibility of POC-owned brands. She still deems this a “huge” accomplishment, but 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 feature 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. The aim is to educate and not fearmonger, with knowledge as power.
In a world where women of color have been exploited and sidelined, Rafaela Gonzalez’s Gloryscent line is a refreshing breath of fresh air. She is working towards bringing awareness to healthier self-care options, building up and encouraging women to love themselves, and providing education and empowerment for women to make the best choices for their wellness. Her brand stands for inclusivity in clean beauty, and her range of products is a reflection of her commitment to this idea. With Gloryscent, women of color can finally have access to safe and effective skin-care products that cater to their unique needs.
