Rafaela Gonzalez believes in beauty through inclusion. This belief led Gonzalez to create her own skincare line, Gloryscent, that primarily caters to women of color. Gonzalez grew up in an environment where she was self-conscious of her textured hair and darker skin tone because the standards of beauty in Europe were different from the natural features she had. Gloryscent is the culmination of Gonzalez’s self-love and acceptance journey. She created this brand to serve underrepresented women of color in the beauty industry that often fails to cater to their needs.
Gloryscent’s slogan is “pro-melanin.” Beyond just centering women of color, this skincare brand is also focused on providing women with natural and safe beauty products. During the process of creating Gloryscent, Gonzalez found that the majority of products marketed to women of color contained toxic ingredients that were harmful. One study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology found that these chemicals were particularly harmful to women of color more than white women. This motivated Gonzalez to create a brand that stood for inclusivity in clean beauty practices. Gonzalez wanted to provide women of color with access to health and wellness products that are not only safe but also effective.
Gonzalez took inspiration from her Caribbean roots to serve as the basis for many of her products. She uses ingredients from her ancestral home and highlights them in her natural skincare line. One such product is the Behold Brightening Balm, which is made with neem oil. It is said that this oil reduces hyperpigmentation and wrinkles while softening the skin. Another product, the Soothing Enzyme Cleansing Gel, is made with arnica flower extract, willow bark, and organic ginseng. These natural additives soothe sun-damaged skin, promote exfoliation, and help soften fine lines.
Gloryscent boasts several products that are friendly for daily use. These products include Total Body Serum, Urbana Elixir, and Manketti Oil Serum. All of these products are made with natural elements mentioned previously. Gonzalez’s mission in creating these products was to provide women with a complete skin routine rather than just one or two products. She believes that it is necessary for someone transitioning to clean beauty practices to have access to an entire line of products.
Formulating her products proved to be a challenge for Gonzalez. However, her lack of formal training in skincare did not dissuade her from pursuing her passion for providing effective care. She enrolled in an online school where she learned how to source her own ingredients carefully. This helped her create nutrient-packed products that define the Gloryscent collection.
Gloryscent’s mission is to provide healthier and tailored alternatives to harsh and often damaging active ingredients found in mainstream products. This skincare line aims to lift up women of color by providing them with safe and effective products that cater to their needs. Gonzalez wants to bring awareness to healthier options for self-care and make women feel empowered to make the best choices for their wellness.
Gonzalez had her biggest achievement last year when Gloryscent made it into JCPenney stores through the Thirteen Lune e-commerce site that boosts the visibility of POC-owned brands. She still deems this a “huge” accomplishment. However, this year, she’s particularly proud of hosting a speaking series about inclusivity in clean beauty. The series is called “Let’s Talk Inclusion in Clean Beauty” and is composed of interviews featuring various founders and organizations. They will highlight the importance of raising awareness about the toxic ingredients in self-care products marketed to Latinx women and other women of color. There are currently five episodes available, with more to come in late spring.
In conclusion, Rafaela Gonzalez’s journey to self-love and acceptance led her to create Gloryscent, a natural skincare line that caters to women of color. Her mission of inclusivity in clean beauty practices is what sets her brand apart from others. Gloryscent provides women of color with access to health and wellness products that are safe and effective. Through her brand, Gonzalez brings awareness to healthier options for self-care and encourages women to love themselves.
