Monique Kofsky is a biochemist, mom, and founder of Butter & Lye—a sustainable skincare brand grounded in science and simplicity. After more than a decade working in cancer immunotherapy, Monique was inspired to create her own products when she couldn’t find gentle, trustworthy solutions for her adult acne. Her turning point came after reading countless articles about the harmful, often undisclosed ingredients in personal care products marketed to Black women. She asked herself, “Why am I still putting this on my body?”—and decided to make something better.

Using her scientific background, Monique began formulating natural soap in her kitchen. When friends and family loved the results and kept coming back for more, she realized she had something worth building. What began as a personal solution grew into a mission to help others care for their skin with clean, effective, and eco-conscious products. Inspired by traditional soap-making and her Haitian-American roots, Monique built Butter & Lye to reflect her lifelong values of sustainability, transparency, and care.