From Door-to-Door Dreams to Digital Glamour

Once upon a time—back in 1886—a door-to-door book salesman named David H. McConnell noticed something remarkable: his customers were more interested in the perfumes he offered as gifts than the books he was selling. That simple insight sparked a beauty revolution that would empower women and shape how the world experienced beauty for more than a century.

What began as the California Perfume Company soon became Avon, a name inspired by Shakespeare’s birthplace and synonymous with trust, innovation, and opportunity. From Mrs. P.F.E. Albee, the very first “Avon Lady,” to the launch of Skin So Soft and ANEW, Avon has always been more than makeup—it’s been a movement.

Avon’s Legacy of Empowering Women and Reinventing Beauty

For 139 years, Avon has championed women’s entrepreneurship through direct selling, delivered science-backed skincare before it was trendy, and inspired confidence through every lipstick, serum, and scent.

Below are important, iconic Avon moments that helped define who we are today—a company for women, creating innovative beauty products and supporting causes that celebrate women’s power to make a beautiful and positive impact in the world.

Read on for the best beauty story ever told.

Avon’s Founder and Early Years

1886: In September, David H. McConnell (who initially sold books as a door-to-door salesman in NY) decides to sell perfume instead of books.

1886: McConnell hires then-50-year-old Mrs. P.F.E. Albee, who becomes the first woman to sell Avon door to door. She is considered the first “Avon Lady” or the first Avon Representative.

1886: The first product sold was a perfume—Rose Extract—from the California Perfume Company.

1892: McConnell launches his ‘new’ business in Manhattan at 126 Chambers Street, naming it the California Perfume Company.

1897: The California Perfume Company builds a lab in Suffern, New York.

Early 20th Century: Innovation and Expansion

1905: Avon introduces Outlook magazine to share advice with employees and keep representatives informed on company news—a trusted resource supporting its growing sales force.

1906: The first national-level advertisement for the California Perfume Company introduces their new odor: Roses.

1909: On May 3, the California Perfume Company corporate office moves to 31 Park Place, New York.

1909: On June 16, McConnell signs an agreement of corporation for the California Perfume Company in the state of New Jersey.

1910: Agents Credit Association—the original name of the U.S. Direct Selling Association—is founded with 10 companies, including the California Perfume Company (Avon).

1914: Avon expands internationally into Canada by opening operations in Montreal.

1916: On January 28, company officials re-incorporate in New York.

1910s–1920s: Lipstick, Skincare, and Branding

1919: Avon introduces its first lipstick, packaged in a sleek metal tube. After years in development, this beauty essential launches in just two classic shades—light and dark. Worn in the popular “Cupid’s Bow” style, it highlighted the upper lip’s elegant peaks, capturing the timeless charm of the era.

1926: Avon expands beyond fragrances and cosmetics to offer practical non-beauty products, from a home cleanser to a tooth brush.

1927: Avon sells its first skincare collection, the ‘Gertrude Recordon Facial Treatment.’ Founder David H. McConnell collaborates with renowned beauty expert Gertrude Recordon to craft this deluxe four-piece line, which includes an astringent, cleansing cream, peach lotion, and skin food

1928: Avon takes its name in 1928, inspired by the birthplace of McConnell’s favorite playwright, William Shakespeare. Fun fact: in using the name Avon, they launch it with a limited number of new products.

1929: Avon debuts its name and logo on a new cosmetics line.

1930s–1940s: Growth and Product Innovation

1932: In the company’s trademark application (June 3, 1932), the description of goods/services is recorded as “perfumes, toilet waters, powder, rouge compacts, lipsticks and other toiletry products.”

1933: Avon broadens its range of skin care, introducing the ultra-moisturizing Hand Cream in 1933—softening women’s hands ever since.

1937: David H. McConnell, Avon’s founder, passes away in January. Mr. McConnell, Sr. had the pleasure of seeing his son serve as Executive Vice President, and ultimately take on the full responsibilities of company president.

1937–1944: David H. McConnell, Jr.—son of Avon’s founder—takes the helm as President after his father’s passing. Having learned the business from the ground up, he expands Avon’s product line by 400%, guiding the brand to become one of America’s leading names in beauty before his death in 1944.

1939: On October 6, the California Perfume Company officially changes its name to Avon Products, Inc.

1942-1945: During WWII, Avon transforms over half of its Suffern Lab from manufacturing beauty products to producing essential wartime items.

1946: Avon offers its stock for sale to the public.

1947: Avon’s Sun Lotion with Insect Repellent was introduced and becomes a must-have for outdoor fun, protecting against ultraviolet rays while keeping pesky bugs away—a perfect combo for balmy beach and poolside days. Today, Avon continues this outdoor essentials tradition with Sun Care and Insect Repellent products.

1948: Claudette Colbert was one of several actresses to appear in Avon advertisements.

1948: Avon enters the market in 10 new countries, the 26-year spurt introducing 450 products and annual sales growth of more than $1 billion.

1950s–1960s: Global Reach, Awards, and Iconic Products

1950: Avon begins manufacturing all over the country, one of the main facilities being Morton Grove in Illinois.

1950: Avon operates one of the fastest assembly lipstick lines, comprised of both men and women, that produces more than 250 lipsticks in one minute and often 300,000 lipsticks in a single day.

1954: Avon Ding Dong Ad campaign—the longest and most successful campaign in advertising history until 1967.

1954: Avon expands North America by entering international markets, aggressively adding Puerto Rico and Venezuela.

1955: The Fortune 500 list debuts in January, and Avon is one of the original member companies since.

1955: The Avon Foundation was created in 1955 as a private foundation. The first grant was a $400 scholarship.

1959: The iconic Topaze fragrance debuts—a timeless blend of jasmine, rose, and sheer musk. Discontinued in 2017, Avon brought the Avon Classics Topaze Cologne made its return in 2024—back by popular demand.

1960’s: Topaze and other men’s scents are packaged in decanters, available in fun shapes such as cars, birds, guitars, and boats. These designs become popular over the years as gifts and are sought-after items for vintage Avon collectors today.

1961: Skin So Soft Emollient Bath Oil launches and remains a favorite brand today.

1964: Avon goes public and lists on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker symbol “AVP”.

1965: Avon introduces the President’s Award, honoring its top sales representatives with a charm pendant engraved “President’s Award 1965” on the back.

1968: Elusive by Avon, launches, but is ultimately retired in 1976. It is a chypre-spicy fragrance that embodies the elegance of its time. To promote it, Avon’s UK team creates a vinyl recording for representatives—featuring gentle fragrance ballad music and the distinctive, authoritative voice of British actor Patrick Allen.

1969: The first statue of Mrs. Albee (the first official Avon Representative) is designed as one of the most endearing symbols of success for Avon Representatives to win as top Avon sales reps.

1970s: Inclusivity, Sports, and Women’s Empowerment

1970: The ad “Your Avon Representative is Christmas Calling now” marks a shift in Avon’s marketing and hiring, reflects a broader move toward racial integration and affirmative action in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

1970: Avon launches Envira, an environmental awareness makeup line and was designed to protect the skin from environmental effects and capitalized on the growing public concern about pollution.

1971: Avon starts selling jewelry, debuting beloved collections like Evening Creation, Precious Pretenders, and Golden Moments.

1974: Avon becomes the largest distributor of costume jewelry in the nation.

1975: Avon launches a makeup line called “Avon Shades of Beauty” included a variety of products like makeup, skincare, and haircare items, specifically designed to flatter the skin tones of Black women.

1977: Avon launches the women’s long-distance running series—Avon Running—led by Kathrine Switzer, the first woman to officially run the 1967 Boston Marathon. What began with a few races in the U.S. and abroad grew into hundreds of events across dozens of countries. Its success helped pave the way for the women’s marathon to be included in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

1977: Avon launches the Avon Tennis Circuit, a professional women’s tennis tour that ran for several years. It gave female athletes a major platform and played a key role in shaping women’s professional tennis.

1978: Avon International Marathon, an annual women’s marathon event took place. “The Avon Women’s Marathons broke barriers by giving talented women runners’ confidence, opportunity and exposure, proving they could do it.”

1978: Avon launches an “Operation Smile” campaign to sell lipstick for just 35 cents, resulting in over 20 million lipsticks being sold. This campaign was part of Avon’s strategy to get its lipstick onto as many lips as possible.

1979: Avon becomes the largest distributor of costume jewelry in the world.

1979: Avon acquires Tiffany & Co. to expand its jewelry offerings but sold it a few years later after it didn’t draw the new customers they hoped for.

1980s: Science, Skincare, and Innovation

1980’s: Avon adds UVA/UVB protection to its facial moisturizers—years before sun protection became a mainstream concern.

1985: Avon developed a stabilized form of pure Vitamin A (aka Retinol) and launches BioAdvance—the first skincare product to feature it. A true breakthrough in healthy-aging innovation that continues to inspire today.

1985: Avon enters into elder care by acquiring Retirement Inns of America and the Mediplex Group, operators of retirement and nursing homes. By 1989–1990, Avon fully exits the healthcare field.

1985: Avon and Liz Claiborne teamed up to market fragrances and cosmetics. Avon held 50% of Liz Claiborne Products Inc. until 1987, when Liz Claiborne Inc. took full ownership.

1987: Avon acquires the Giorgio Beverly Hills fragrance brand, but sold it to Procter & Gamble by 1994.

1987: Avon continues to lead the way in healthy aging with the first Collagen Booster featuring a 5% concentration of stabilized Vitamin C—long before it became a skincare essential. (Unstabilized Vitamin C turns brown and loses its power.) Just a few years earlier, Avon also introduced the first product to use stabilized retinol.

1988: The introduces Avon Color, a cosmetic collection with shades designed to complement each other effortlessly.

1989: Avon was the first major cosmetics company to end all animal testing permanently, turning to clinical studies on human volunteers and a comprehensive digital database to ensure product safety. Learn more in our animal welfare policy.

1989: Avon releases the aerobics video Shape Up With Mary Hart, the Entertainment Tonight co-host. Sold exclusively through Avon’s representatives, it was a hit—250,000 copies shipped in just the first two weeks of its March launch.

1990s: Celebrity Partnerships, Technology, and Expansion

1990: Avon and the Avon Foundation began working with celebrities such as Elizabeth Taylor and Sophia Loren, then continued to work with Reese Witherspoon, Patrick Dempsey, Eva Longoria, Fergie, Lucy Hale, Salma Hayek and Bon Jovi, among others.

1990: Dianne Wiest’s portrayal of Peg Boggs, the Avon Lady, in Tim Burton’s 1990 classic Edward Scissorhands embodies the kindness, compassion, and gentle suburban innocence that defined the classic Avon Lady.

1991: The ‘Four Ways to Be Beautiful’ campaign expands beyond traditional door-to-door sales, adapting to changing consumer habits and technology. The ‘four ways’ let customers order by phone (1‑800‑Call‑Avon), fax, brochure, or directly through a representative.

1992: Avon has contributed over $800 million to breast cancer causes since 1992.

1992: Avon introduced Anew Perfecting Complex for Face—the first mass-market skincare product with Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA). This breakthrough sparked a skincare revolution and set a new industry standard. Since then, the Anew line of skin care has continued to deliver powerful, proven formulas that help women achieve healthier, more radiant-looking skin.

1992: The Avon Foundation launches the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade.

1993: Elizabeth Taylor collaborated with Avon to create a glittering, glamorous jewelry collection. Known for its ornate detail and fine-luxury look, the line featured standout pieces like the Cleopatra-inspired Egyptian cuff and the Katharina Cross pin-and-pendant from The Taming of the Shrew.

1993: Avon was a forerunner in endorsing the concept that beauty is more than skin deep, starting in 1993 when we introduced a “Women are Beautiful” theme. The “Women are Beautiful” theme examined the lives and relations of women, like this television commercial, with a young of actress Sarah Michelle Gellar.

1994: Far Away Eau de Parfum debuts—a warm, exotic blend of spices created by master perfumers René Morgenthaler and Xavier Renard. Decades later, it’s still a beloved favorite.

1995: Diane von Furstenberg collaborated with Avon on a line of casualwear called “The Color Authority,” which included clothing and accessories. “The Idea is to create a small wardrobe of great items, that are very adaptable,” von Furstenberg told Women’s Wear Daily.

1996: Avon becomes the first beauty company to launch an e-commerce site, avon.com, marking a significant early step into digital sales for the beauty industry.

1996: Avon serves as the official cosmetics, skincare, and fragrance sponsor for ‘The Olympic Woman’ at the Atlanta Games.

1996: The Avon Barbie Dolls—featuring the elegant Winter Velvet Barbie—becomes one of Avon and Mattel’s biggest launches, generating $40 million in sales.

1996: Avon patents a stable Vitamin C molecule, AVC10, used in its Anew Night Force Vertical Lifting Complex to help lift and tone the look of sagging skin. The breakthrough came from Avon’s Suffern Skin Care Lab, led by research scientist Dmitri Ptechlintsev.

1997: Avon expands its Anew line beyond signature face creams to a complete skincare regimen of cleansers, toners, and moisturizers—powered by advanced technology and a patented vitamin C molecule developed by Avon scientists. With Anew Vitamin C, Avon becomes the first brand to deliver stabilized vitamin C skincare.

1997: The “Dare to Change Your Mind About Avon” campaign marks a fresh chapter for the brand, redefining it for a new generation of professional women. To move past its dated image, Avon featured real customers in its ads—creating an authentic, modern connection with consumers.

1998: Avon expands its beloved Skin So Soft line with Bug Guard—a smart blend of SPF sun protection and insect repellent that helps defend against mosquitoes and ticks.

1998: Avon opens its first store—the Avon Salon & Spa in Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue—offering four serene floors of five-star beauty services and products.

1998: The Avon Representative Barbie Doll is released as an exclusive special edition, celebrating Avon Representatives and their inspiring legacy.

1999: Avon introduces its first water-based lipstick, replacing traditional oils and waxes with water for a lighter, more hydrating, and comfortable feel.

1999: Andrea Jung became the first female CEO of Avon, a historic appointment for the company and for women in corporate leadership.

1999: Avon adopts the slogan “The Company for Women” under the leadership of Andrea Jung.

1999: Avon held its first national convention in Las Vegas—a milestone in a year of major transformation that also welcomed it’s first female CEO.

2000s: Digital Expansion, Celebrity Collaborations, and Wellness

2000: The web address YourAvon.com launched with 16,500 Reps signed up. The site marked a big step for Avon, letting representatives expand beyond door-to-door sales to online shopping.

2000: Venus and Serena Williams became spokespeople for Avon’s global campaign, ‘Let’s Talk.’ Their TV and print ads began appearing in 2001, bringing a fresh, empowering face to a trusted beauty brand.

2000: Haiku Eau de Parfum debuts, blending delicate florals with crisp green notes for a fresh, timeless scent that remains a best seller today.

2001: Avon began allowing its representatives to sell products at kiosks in local malls, providing an additional sales channel to supplement the company’s traditional door-to-door method.

2001: Avon launches its “Beauty Starts from Within” wellness category. The tagline reflects a holistic view that true beauty begins with inner health and well-being.

2002: Avon expands its reach to the Latina market with a dedicated brochure, Eres Tú, paving the way for brochure editions in nearly 40 languages worldwide.

2003: Avon launches the Avon 39 Walk to End Breast Cancer—an inspiring series of fundraising walks supporting women’s health. The final season took place in 2017, as Avon shifted toward more efficient ways to raise funds for the cause. Over 14 years, the walks raised an incredible $646 million.

2003: Avon debuts “Avon Voices,” a global online talent search for singing and songwriting, open to both men and women. This competition was notable for being one of Avon’s first global, online initiatives of this kind.

2003: Avon stood out with its 150-plus-page brochure released every two weeks in the U.S.—an unusually frequent pace for direct sales. This Campaign Brochure strategy let Avon continually refresh its lineup, keeping beauty trends exciting and ahead of the competition

2003: Avon introduces the Anew Clinical line with Line and Wrinkle Corrector, delivering high-performance results you can see and feel.

2004: Avon’s first-ever men’s brochure, M: The Men’s Catalog, features New York Jets quarterback Chad Pennington. Across 16 pages of men’s grooming products and accessories, Pennington is playfully introduced as an ‘Avon Representative,’ joining the company’s iconic network of trusted advisors.

2004: Mexican-American actress, Salma Hayek, becomes an ambassador for the Avon Foundation for Women and is featured in campaigns for the “Today, Tomorrow and Always” perfume line and relaunched of the the Avon Color Cosmetics Collection.

2005: Avon completes construction on a new $25 million, 225,000‑sq.-ft. global R&D hub, advancing innovation while honoring trusted expertise.

2005: Avon provided enhanced training materials for Representatives—including CDs, books, and tapes—for the new BeComing collection, which covered the six product categories and explained its purpose: blending individual lifestyles with high-quality products and exceptional service. The BeComing line included Luminous Skincare, Radiant Color Cosmetics, and Centered Aromatherapeutic Products. BeComing Sensational featured fragrances, fashion accessories, and jewelry. BeComing Mom supported women during and after pregnancy, offering pampering products such as body lotions, anti-stretch creams, and cooling foot and leg treatments, along with baby care essentials like calming body washes, gentle shampoos, lotions, powders, bibs, bath toys, and even a waterproof book. BeComing Active offered personal care products, vitamins, supplements, and workout accessories. That same year, the program evolved into free online training called AVON U.

2005: Today by Avon, a timeless floral-woody-musk scent, earns the FiFi Award for Fragrance of the Year.

2005: Avon is named the second-largest publisher in the U.S. after TV Guide. Worldwide, Avon produced around 800 million brochures a year.

2006: Eye Lift Pro debuts and still remains—one of Avon’s top-selling Eye Care favorites.

2007: American actress Reese Witherspoon became Avon’s first global ambassador. She served as honorary chair of the Avon Foundation for Women, championing breast cancer and domestic violence programs, while representing Avon’s beauty products, sales force, and contributing to product development.

2007: Avon enhances its best-selling Anew Ultimate line with advanced sirtuin youth protein science—a breakthrough for healthy, youthful-looking skin.

2008: Bond girl Gemma Arterton embodies timeless allure as the face of Bond Girl 007 perfume, blending classic glamour with modern sophistication.

2008: New York luxury jewelry designer Kenneth Jay Lane (KJL) created Avon’s Holiday Jewelry Collection—pieces that glitter, dazzle, and captivate the eye. Designed by the world’s most celebrated costume jeweler, each piece reflects Lane’s timeless philosophy: “Elegance, luxury, and good taste never go out of style.”

2008: On International Women’s Day, Avon partnered with the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) to launch a global initiative empowering women and working to end violence against them.

2009: Avon launches Anew Clinical Derma-Full X3 Facial Filling Serum, delivering the plumping and filling effects of a hyaluronic acid treatment—without the needles and at a fraction of the cost. Even in tough economic times, women wanted real results without overspending. Avon answered with the first-ever injectable-grade hyaluronic acid serum for at-home use.

2009: Avon’s first-ever Super Bowl commercial, aired during Super Bowl XLIII, featured three real Avon Representatives sharing their experiences with the Avon business opportunity.

2009: Reese Witherspoon, as an Avon global ambassador, launched her first fragrance, In Bloom.

2010s: Sustainability, Digital Innovation, and Health

2010: Avon acquires the direct-selling jewelry brand Silpada, a move that blends Avon’s heritage with modern style—though the founders later buy it back.

2010: Avon launched the “Hello Green Tomorrow” campaign with an initial $1 million donation to help restore the Atlantic Rainforest in South America.

2012: Avon teams up with NeoStrata to launch Anew Clinical Pro Line Eraser, bringing effective, results-driven wrinkle care to every woman.

2013: Avon launches a fragrance line with Fergie, including “Viva”, “Outspoken Fresh” and “Outspoken Party.”

2013: The the award-winning drama Mad Men, the episode “A Tale of Two Cities” centers on the Avon cosmetics account, showcasing the changing professional landscape for women in the 1960s through the experiences of Joan Harris and Peggy Olson.

2013: Lucy Hale becomes the new face of mark. cosmetics, bringing fresh energy to the beloved beauty brand.

2015: Cerberus Capital Management and Avon Products, Inc. announced a strategic partnership where Cerberus separates it into a privately held company called New Avon LLC.

2016: Avon Products, Inc. separates its North American business (US, Canada, and Puerto Rico) into a privately-held company named New Avon LLC.

2017: Avon launches Anew Hydra Fusion, a hydration-focused line with lightweight, layerable, water-like textures for healthy, radiant skin.

2017: Avon becomes the official makeup sponsor for the 16th season of Lifetime’s Project Runway. Project Runway’s host and mentor, Tim Gunn, announced the partnership at Avon’s annual RepFest convention in Nashville on August 6, 2017.

2018: Avon becomes the first-ever National Presenting Sponsor of the American Cancer Society’s (ACS) “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” walks.

2019: New Avon LLC—the North American company that separated from Avon Products, Inc.—announced a definitive agreement with South Korea’s consumer goods leader, LG Household & Health Care, Ltd. You can still purchase products through Avon Lady of NJ, an Avon Ambassador in the United States.

2019: Avon embraces digital transformation with the launch of the “Avon On” app—empowering Representatives to build a stronger, more connected online presence.

2019: Avon launches its first CBD product (to eventually become many) with Green Goddess Facial Oil, complete with 100mg of sustainably sourced CBD.

2020s: Innovation, Clean Beauty, and Legacy

2020: Avon became the world’s #1 fragrance brand, selling more units than top names like Chanel and Natura.

2020: Studio 1886 Brand is launched, offering beauty products that honor Avon’s iconic legacy and the perfect balance of bold confidence and unforgettable discovery.

2020: Cushion Technology, pioneered by our parent company LG H&H, is a K-beauty innovation featuring a foundation-soaked sponge neatly housed in a compact.

2020: The Digital Catalog debuts–with features to customize and personalize for customers.

2020: New partnership with Gyrl Wonder, an organization that provides career resources and advice for young women of color.

2020: Avon held RepFest, its annual representatives’ convention, virtually for the first time during the pandemic, welcoming over 9,000 attendees.

2020: Avon launches a limited-edition perfume called “Charmed,” which featured an 18K gold-plated peacock bottle adorned with 21 Swarovski crystals and was sold for $1200.

2021: Avon launches the first lipstick in the U.S. with a core containing Bio-Retinol—fmg Cashmere Essence Lipcream.

2021: The beauty of giving back—Avon donated 17 million pounds of products to Feed the Children, supporting millions of families and 4.4 million women and girls.

2021: Avon was the right answer to a Final Jeopardy! clue in ‘Business History.’ The clue: David McConnell’s cosmetics and perfume company was rebranded in 1939 with a name honoring the home of his favorite playwright. Correct response: What is Avon?

2021: Avon enters the realm of Clean Beauty with our Farm Rx vegan skin care line.

2021: The Avon brand achieved remarkable online success worldwide. According to the Cosmetify Index, Avon was named the most popular beauty brand of the year in 37 countries—recognized for its strong social media engagement and global search volume.

2021: Avon launches ‘Avon Live – Live Shopping,’ a platform for interactive live events where customers and representatives can shop, learn, and enjoy exclusive product demonstrations and offers

2021: Avon’s Skin So Soft marks its 60th anniversary. Launched in 1961 as a luxurious bath oil, it has grown over six decades into an iconic body care line beloved for its timeless quality.

2021: Avon North America business gets a new name: The Avon Company – The company continues to sell a wide range of products, including makeup, skincare, and fragrances.

2021: Avon launches its first streaming TV ads.