As women, we know all too well how the beauty industry can exploit and sideline our needs. Even as far back as childhood, Rafaela Gonzalez, the founder of Gloryscent, was relentlessly confronted with European standards of beauty that left her feeling self-conscious about her textured hair and darker skin. This, combined with toxic beauty products that didn’t cater to women of color, was the driving force behind her journey to create Gloryscent, which makes natural, safe, and effective skincare products for women of color.
Gloryscent is a “pro-melanin skin-care brand” that aims to provide women of color with access to health and wellness products that are safe and effective. The brand features natural ingredients such as arnica flower extract, willow bark, organic ginseng, and neem oil – derived from trees that Gonzalez grew up seeing in her backyard in the Dominican countryside. Gonzalez takes inspiration from her Caribbean roots to serve as the basis for many of her products.
The Gloryscent range of products includes Behold Brightening Balm, Soothing Enzyme Cleansing Gel, Total Body Serum, Urbana Elixir, and Manketti Oil Serum – all made using natural elements to soothe sun-damaged skin, promote exfoliation, and help soften fine lines. What sets Gloryscent apart from other brands is its commitment to inclusivity in clean beauty. The mission of the brand is to provide women of color with healthier, tailored alternatives to mainstream products that often contain harsh and damaging active ingredients.
One of the biggest challenges that Gonzalez faced while creating the healthy, nutrient-packed products that define the Gloryscent collection was figuring out the formulation of the skincare items without formal training in the subject. However, she learned the basics of sourcing ingredients from an online school where she worked towards her diploma at her own pace. Her commitment to efficient skincare laid the foundation for Gloryscent, and she wanted to offer customers the entire collection as a result.
Gloryscent’s ethos stems from the understanding that the beauty industry often neglects women of color and sidelines their beauty needs. Gonzalez’s mission is to provide women with awareness of healthier options for self-care, education, and empowerment 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, designed to boost the visibility of POC-owned brands. This year, she is hosting a speaking series about inclusivity in clean beauty.
The series is titled “Let’s Talk Inclusion in Clean Beauty,” composed of interviews with various founders and organizations who will highlight the importance of raising awareness about the toxic ingredients in beauty products marketed to Latinx women and other women of color. Knowledge is power, and this is what the series aims to achieve.
In conclusion, Gloryscent is an inclusive skincare brand designed to provide safe, natural, and effective skincare products to women of color. Rafaela Gonzalez created the brand out of her personal experience and journey to provide women of color with a clean beauty alternative. The brand’s commitment to inclusivity in clean beauty and education makes it stand out in an industry that often exploits women of color. The future looks bright for Gloryscent, and we are looking forward to seeing more of Gonzalez’s innovative contributions to the beauty industry.
