Rafaela Gonzalez’s Gloryscent: A Pro-Melanin, Clean Beauty Brand for Women of Color
Beauty standards have always been dictated by European notions of beauty, which often leaves women with textured hair and darker skin feeling self-conscious. Rafaela Gonzalez, a Dominican Republic native, experienced these standards first-hand while growing up. This experience led her to create Gloryscent, a skin-care line that caters to underrepresented women of color in a beauty industry that often fails them.
Gloryscent is more than just a brand that centers women of color; it also focuses on clean beauty. During the process of creating Gloryscent, Gonzalez learned that most products catered towards women of color contained toxic ingredients. One study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology found that these harmful chemicals disproportionately impact these consumers in comparison to white women. As such, her brand’s mission expanded to “inclusivity in clean beauty,” providing women of color with access to health and wellness products that are both safe and effective.
Inspired by her Caribbean roots, Gonzalez infuses her several skin-care products with natural ingredients from her ancestral home, including arnica flower extract, willow bark, and organic ginseng. These natural additives soothe sun-damaged skin, promote exfoliation, and help reduce the appearance of fine lines. Neem oil, derived from trees that Gonzalez grew up seeing on the island, is found in the newly developed Behold Brightening Balm ($96), which reduces hyperpigmentation and wrinkles while softening the skin.
However, Gonzalez did not have a background in formulation when she decided to create Gloryscent. She found an online school where she could work toward her diploma at her own pace to learn how to formulate and source her own ingredients. She felt it was necessary to create and offer a comprehensive skin routine rather than just one or two products, believing that if someone wants to transition to clean beauty, they should have the entire collection.
In an industry that often exploits women of color, Gloryscent is unique in its mission to provide healthier, tailored alternatives to the harsh and often damaging active ingredients in mainstream products. The brand uplifts women of color by offering care that is tailored to their specific needs. Gonzalez hopes to provide education and empowerment so that they can make the best choices for their wellness.
Gloryscent’s mission of effective care for women of color has already garnered attention from major retailers such as JCPenney, where the brand’s products are available through the Thirteen Lune e-commerce site. Gonzalez considers this a “huge” accomplishment, but she is particularly proud of her upcoming “Let’s Talk Inclusion in Clean Beauty” speaking series. The series is a collection of interviews featuring various founders and organizations that highlight the importance of raising awareness about the toxic ingredients in self-care products marketed to Latinx women and other women of color. The series aims to educate rather than fear monger and will help women make the best choices for their wellness.
In conclusion, Rafaela Gonzalez’s Gloryscent not only serves as a pro-melanin, clean beauty brand for women of color, but it also embodies a mission of inclusive and effective care. The brand’s story is a testament to the need for clean beauty products that cater to the specific needs of women of color while uplifting them in the process. Gloryscent is a brand to watch as it continues to make strides towards a more inclusive and healthier beauty industry.
