Rafaela Gonzalez: Empowering Women of Color with Safe and Clean Beauty Products
Growing up, Rafaela Gonzalez felt self-conscious about her textured hair and darker skin, as she was surrounded by European standards of beauty. Her personal journey of self-love and acceptance led her to create her own skin-care line, Gloryscent, which aims to serve underrepresented women of color in a beauty industry that often fails to cater to their needs.
Gloryscent: A Pro-Melanin Skincare Brand
Gloryscent is a “pro-melanin skin-care brand” that centers women of color and provides them with safe and clean beauty products. While the brand aims to provide safe and clean beauty for all, Gonzalez learned through the process of creating Gloryscent that many products catered toward women of color contained toxic ingredients. The negative impact of such chemical exposure is disproportionately impacting these consumers, as found in a study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Gloryscent’s mission thus evolved to stand for “inclusivity in clean beauty,” providing women of color with access to health and wellness products that are safe and effective. The brand focuses on natural ingredients that soothe sun-damaged skin, promote exfoliation, and help soften fine lines.
The Inspiration Behind Gloryscent
Born in the Dominican Republic, Gonzalez took inspiration from her Caribbean roots to serve as the basis for many of her products. By highlighting ingredients from her ancestral home, Gonzalez hoped to honor her “beautiful island.” Her Behold Brightening Balm ($96) is made with neem oil, derived from trees that Gonzalez grew up seeing on the island.
The brand also features other natural additives such as arnica flower extract, willow bark, and organic ginseng. In addition to the Behold Brightening Balm, Gloryscent offers customers the Soothing Enzyme Cleansing Gel ($56), Total Body Serum ($63), Urbana Elixir ($54), and Manketti Oil Serum ($62), all made using natural elements.
Creating an Effective Brand of Skincare Products
Gonzalez initially faced the challenge of figuring out the formulation for the skincare items without formal training in the subject. The lack of resources at her immediate disposal did not dissuade her; Gonzalez found an online school where she could work toward her diploma at her own pace.
Through this, Gonzalez learned how to begin the process of sourcing her own ingredients, which proved to be a significant challenge. Nevertheless, she persevered, believing that the effective care Gloryscent now provides was necessary to bring women healthier options for self-care.
Empowering Women of Color Through Education and Awareness
In an industry that often exploits women of color and sidelines their beauty needs, Gloryscent aims to provide them with healthier, tailored alternatives to the harsh and often damaging active ingredients in mainstream products while also uplifting these women as they are. Gonzalez’s goal is to encourage and educate women to love themselves and make the best choices for their wellness.
In 2020, JCPenney stores accepted Gloryscent through the Thirteen Lune e-commerce site, which helps boost the visibility of POC-owned brands. Gonzalez deemed this a “huge” accomplishment, but this year, she’s particularly proud to be hosting a speaking series regarding inclusivity in clean beauty. The series, titled “Let’s Talk Inclusion in Clean Beauty,” will feature interviews with various founders and organizations highlighting the importance of raising awareness about toxic ingredients in self-care products marketed to Latinx women and other women of color.
According to Gonzalez, “This is with the intention to simply educate and not fearmonger. Knowledge is power.”
Gloryscent’s Mission Goes Beyond Traditional Skincare
Gloryscent’s mission is not just about skincare; it’s also about empowering women of color through education and awareness on safer beauty products. Gonzalez aims to bring attention to healthier options for self-care, building up and encouraging women to love themselves, and providing education and empowerment so that they can make the best choices for their wellness.
Conclusion
Rafaela Gonzalez’s Gloryscent is more than just a skincare brand. It’s a mission statement that empowers women of color by providing them safe and clean beauty products, educating them on healthier options for self-care, and uplifting them by encouraging self-love and empowerment. Gonzalez’s journey of self-love and acceptance has led to the creation of a brand that centers on those who are often excluded in the beauty industry. Through knowledge and awareness, Gloryscent is more than a brand – it’s a movement.
