Avon

Avon's story starts in 1886, the year the Statue of Liberty was dedicated. David H. McConnell, a traveling book salesman in New York, gave away rose-scented perfume samples to get people to listen to his pitch. The samples proved more popular than the books, so he started the California Perfume Company and hired Mrs. P.F.E. Albee of New Hampshire as his first seller. She traveled from home to home with her samples, and the “Avon Lady” was born.

The company first used the Avon name in 1929, inspired by Shakespeare's birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon, and officially took it in 1939. The “Ding Dong, Avon Calling” TV ads ran from 1954 to 1967 and made the brand famous across America. Skin So Soft arrived in 1961 and is still one of its best-known products.

Who owns Avon now. The business has changed hands several times. In 2016 the US arm was split off from the global company as New Avon, which was renamed The Avon Company in 2021 and has been owned by Korea's LG H&H since 2019. The international business went to Brazil's Natura & Co in 2020. In August 2024 the old parent, Avon Products Inc., filed for Chapter 11 in Delaware, largely over talc lawsuits; the US selling business was a separate company and kept trading. Investment firm Regent bought Avon International from Natura in January 2026, then completed its purchase of Avon North America on September 1, 2026, reuniting the brand. Lisa Siders now leads the combined company as CEO.

America is where Avon began and central to where Avon goes next.

Michael A. Reinstein, Founder, Chairman and CEO, Regent — Cosmetics Business, August 2026

Products. Avon sells skin care (Anew Ultimate, Anew Platinum and the newer Anew Clinical line), makeup under fmg Glimmer and other names, fragrance, bath and body care, and personal care like deodorant and hand cream. The company calls Skin So Soft Original bath oil, Anew Ultimate day cream, fmg Glimmer cream eyeliner and Haiku perfume its icons. New products and discounts arrive every campaign, which gives sellers a reason to reach out to customers every two weeks.

Avon has no paid starter kit in the US. The company says joining costs $0, with no hidden fees and no minimum order. Instead of a box of products, new Ambassadors get a digital toolkit: a free personalized online and mobile store, an interactive, shoppable digital brochure, a mobile app, product training videos, a virtual try-on tool and access to the Avon Care Center for customer service. Avon also lists perks such as discounted health insurance plans, tuition discounts and the Avon Perks discount program. If you want samples or demo products, you buy them yourself at your Ambassador discount, so budget for that before your first campaign.

Avon's pay starts with retail sales. Ambassadors get 20% to 50% off their own orders of $40 or more, and earn 20% to 50% commission on customer orders of $40 or more; the rate depends on your sales. For orders you hand-deliver, your profit is the gap between what you pay Avon and what your customer pays you. The company gives a simple example: sell a $10 lipstick at a 40% level, pay Avon $6 plus tax, and keep the rest. Online store orders, bonuses and incentive pay go to the Avon Wallet, which pays out by Venmo, PayPal or check.

There is no required quota. Avon suggests ordering every campaign (every two weeks) to keep your account active and up to date. Ambassadors who build a team can become Leaders and earn on their team's sales, and top sellers can earn incentive trips; the company has advertised an all-expenses-paid trip to Costa Rica. You do not have to sign up under a Leader, though the company may assign you a mentor later. Leadership rates and rank rules are not published on the sign-up page, so check the company's current compensation plan before you count on team income.

Bringing the business back together gives us the opportunity to build a more focused, connected, and ambitious business for our representatives, ambassadors, associates, and customers.

Lisa Siders, CEO, Avon — Personal Care Insights, August 2026

PROS

• Free to join, with no fees and no minimum order
• One of the most recognized beauty brands in America, so there is little explaining to do
• Affordable products with new deals every two-week campaign
• Up to 50% commission on retail sales, plus a free online store
• Long-loved classics like Skin So Soft and Anew keep customers coming back

CONS

• Commission depends on sales, so new Ambassadors usually start at the lower end
• Orders and earnings rely on a steady customer base; the $40 order threshold matters
• Leadership pay details are hard to find on the public site
• Ownership has changed several times; the 2026 merger under Regent may bring plan changes
• Plenty of Ambassadors in most towns, so you may compete with neighbors