Title: Gloryscent’s Rafaela Gonzalez Inspires Self-Love and Inclusivity in Clean Beauty
Introduction:
Growing up, Rafaela Gonzalez was no stranger to European standards of beauty that left her self-conscious about her textured hair and darker skin. But she didn’t let it dampen her spirit. Instead, she used it as inspiration to create Gloryscent, a game-changing pro-melanin skincare brand that centers around inclusivity in clean beauty.
Body:
In an exclusive interview with POPSUGAR, Gonzalez revealed that the idea behind Gloryscent was born out of her personal journey towards self-love and acceptance. She wanted to create a brand where women of color (WOC) are not the last thought, but rather the inspiration. She also revealed that the materials available for WOC’s beauty products are mostly toxic and not clean. As such, her brand’s mission expanded and evolved to stand for “inclusivity in clean beauty,” providing WOC with access to health and wellness products that are safe and effective.
Born in the Dominican Republic, Gonzalez took inspiration from her Caribbean roots to serve as the basis for many of her products. She infused natural elements like willow bark, organic ginseng, and arnica flower extract that help soothe sun-damaged skin, promote exfoliation, and soften fine lines.
But the star ingredient in her products is neem oil, derived from trees native to her island. Her Behold Brightening Balm ($96), launched in June 2020, uses this ingredient and reduces hyperpigmentation and wrinkles while softening the skin. However, the brand offers customers an entire collection of skincare, including the Soothing Enzyme Cleansing Gel ($56), Total Body Serum ($63), Urbana Elixir ($54), and Manketti Oil Serum ($62).
Gonzalez faced the challenge of figuring out the formulation of a healthy, nutrient-packed product without any formal training in the subject. She found an online school where she could work toward her diploma at her own pace. Through this, she learned how to begin the process of sourcing her ingredients.
Gloryscent made its way to JCPenney stores last year, and this year Gonzalez is proud of hosting a speaking series regarding inclusivity in clean beauty. The series is titled “Let’s Talk Inclusion in Clean Beauty” and is made up of interviews featuring various founders and organizations to raise awareness of the toxic ingredients in self-care products marketed to women of color.
Conclusion:
Gonzalez’s accomplishment with Gloryscent and inclusive clean beauty serves as an inspiration to women of color worldwide. Through her brand, she strives to bring awareness to healthier options of self-care and encourages women to love themselves. Her vision is to provide education and empowerment to help women make better choices for their wellness. Gonzalez’s dedication to clean beauty is an inspiration to anyone who wants healthier skincare products. Gloryscent has become a game-changer in the beauty industry, making it more inclusive and safe for everyone, regardless of their skin type or color.
