[12] In May 2019, the Brazilian multinational company Natura & Co announced its intent to acquire Avon; the deal closed in January 2020.

[13] At merger completion, Avon became a privately held company, common stock was removed from the NYSE trading.

[14] Avon's founder, David H. McConnell, initially sold books as a door-to-door salesman to New York homes.

[16][17] In May 1894, Alexander D. Henderson joined the company, became vice-president and treasurer, and helped shape its policies and assist in its growth.

[19] On June 16, 1909, McConnell and Henderson signed an agreement of Incorporation for the California Perfume Company in the state of New Jersey.

"[26][27][28] In March 2016, Cerberus Capital Management paid $435 million in cash for preferred stock in Avon Products.

This move was the conclusion of a deal initiated in December 2015, when Avon sold 80.1 percent of its North American Business to Cerberus for $170 million.

As part of a three-year plan, the global Avon Products relocated its headquarters to London in the United Kingdom.

[42] However, in August 2024, Avon Products filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in an effort to settle its talc-based lawsuits.

[44] Some Avon training centers have a small retail section with skin care products, such as creams, serums, makeup, and washes.

Avon recruits sales representatives who sell beauty products, jewelry, accessories, and clothing.

[49] On February 24, 2011, Avon filed a report with the Securities and Exchange commission highlighting the investigation as a corporate risk factor that could cause investor loss.

[52] Avon has since claimed to be working globally to introduce safer methods of testing cosmetics that do not require animals.

[52] Despite laws that require animal testing in some countries, Avon chooses to distribute its products in those jurisdictions.

[56] PETA has since announced that it has added Avon Products Inc. to their list of companies "Working for Regulatory Change".

Its French employees accused it of keeping the workers in the dark for months and not acting in line with the company's publicly stated values of being a socially responsible company that upholds values of trust, respect and integrity and a culture of "open and candid communication.