Gloryscent: A Pro-Melanin Skincare Brand Rooted in Inclusivity and Clean Beauty
Growing up, Rafaela Gonzalez was constantly bombarded with Western standards of beauty, leaving her feeling self-conscious about her textured hair and darker skin. Her personal experience and journey to self-love and acceptance is what inspired her to create Gloryscent, a skincare line that caters to underrepresented women of color in the beauty industry.
Gloryscent is not just another skincare brand that centers women of color; it also emphasizes providing clean, safe, and effective beauty products. During the process of launching Gloryscent, Gonzalez learned that most products geared towards women of color contained toxic ingredients. One study found that the negative impact of chemical exposure is disproportionately affecting these consumers in comparison to white women. Therefore, Gonzalez expanded her brand’s mission to stand for inclusivity in clean beauty, providing women of color 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. By highlighting ingredients from her ancestral home, Gonzalez hopes to honor her “beautiful island”. Her Behold Brightening Balm, which costs $96, is one of her most popular products, containing neem oil derived from trees that were in her backyard while growing up.
Gloryscent’s focus on using natural ingredients that soothe sun-damaged skin, promote exfoliation, and help soften fine lines is another aspect that sets it apart from other skincare lines. Natural additives such as arnica flower extract, willow bark, and organic ginseng provide women with tailored alternatives to the harsh and often damaging active ingredients in mainstream products.
Gonzalez’s goal in creating Gloryscent was not just to provide women of color with standalone products but to offer a complete skincare routine. She believes this is important in transitioning to clean beauty, giving customers access to the entire collection. While Gonzalez lacked formal training on the formulation of skincare products, she found an online school, which allowed her to work at her own pace and learn how to source ingredients.
In an industry that often exploits women of color, Gonzalez’s mission with Gloryscent is to uplift them and provide them with healthier personal care choices. She hopes to educate and empower women to make the best choices for their wellness, raising awareness about the toxic ingredients in self-care products marketed to Latinx women and other women of color.
Last year, her biggest achievement was having Gloryscent in JCPenney stores, which was done through the Thirteen Lune ecommerce site, which helps boost the visibility of POC-owned brands. This year, she is especially proud to be hosting a speaking series regarding inclusivity in clean beauty, titled “Let’s Talk Inclusion in Clean Beauty”. The series features interviews with various founders and organizations, emphasizing the importance of raising awareness about toxic ingredients in self-care products.
By providing clean, safe, and effective beauty products and promoting inclusivity in clean beauty, Gloryscent is making strides in meeting the beauty needs of women of color. Through the use of natural ingredients that cater to sun-damaged skin and other fine lines, Gloryscent is providing women with healthier skincare alternatives to the harsh and often damaging active ingredients in mainstream products.
