Rafaela Gonzalez: Redefining Beauty Standards with Inclusive, Clean Skincare Products
Rafaela Gonzalez, the founder of Gloryscent – a pro-melanin skincare brand – is on a mission to create a beauty industry that cherishes women of color. Her journey towards self-love and inclusion has given birth to Gloryscent, which she created to serve underrepresented women of color in the beauty industry.
Growing up in the Dominican Republic, Rafaela was confronted with European standards of beauty, which often left her feeling self-conscious about her textured hair and darker skin. These experiences inspired her to create a brand where WOC can be the inspiration rather than the last thought.
Gloryscent’s focus is not only on providing safe and clean beauty products but also on promoting inclusivity in clean beauty, allowing women of color access to health and wellness products that are both safe and effective. During the process of creating Gloryscent, Rafaela learned that the majority of products catered towards women of color contained toxic ingredients that disproportionately impact these consumers in comparison to white women, further fueling her dedication to creating safe and clean products.
Drawing inspiration from her Caribbean roots, Rafaela uses ingredients that honor her “beautiful island” in her several skincare products. Her Behold Brightening Balm, for example, is made with neem oil, derived from trees that Gonzalez grew up seeing on the island. Neem oil reduces hyperpigmentation and wrinkles while softening the skin. The brand also features arnica flower extract, willow bark, and organic ginseng. These natural additives soothe sun-damaged skin, promote exfoliation, and help soften fine lines.
Gloryscent offers customers a range of products including the Soothing Enzyme Cleansing Gel, Total body Serum, Urbana Elixir, and Manketti Oil Serum. Rafaela felt it was necessary to create and offer a skincare routine rather than just one or two products, stating that “If someone wants to transition to clean beauty, they should have the entire collection. That was my train of thought at the time.”
While creating the nutrient-packed products that would define the Gloryscent collection, Rafaela faced the challenge of figuring out the formulation for said skincare items as she had no formal training in the subject. However, this did not dissuade her, and she found an online school where she could work towards her diploma at her own pace.
In an industry that often sidelines women of color and their beauty needs, Gloryscent’s mission is to provide healthier, tailored alternatives to the harsh and damaging active ingredients in mainstream products, while also uplifting these women as they are. Rafaela endeavors to bring awareness to healthier options of self-care and encourage women to love themselves.
Last year, Rafaela’s biggest achievement was having Gloryscent in JCPenney stores through the Thirteen Lune ecommerce site, which helps boost the visibility of POC-owned brands. This year, she is particularly proud to be hosting a speaking series regarding inclusivity in clean beauty. The series, titled “Let’s Talk Inclusion in Clean Beauty,” is composed of interviews featuring 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. There are currently five episodes available, with more to come in late spring.
In conclusion, Rafaela Gonzalez and her brand, Gloryscent, are revolutionizing the beauty industry with its focus on inclusivity and clean beauty. Her determination to create a healthier, safer, and more inclusive beauty industry is inspiring, and we can all learn from her journey of self-love and acceptance.
