Debt	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Debt Disclosure [Text Block]	DEBT Revolving Credit Facility We maintain a $1 billion revolving credit facility (the “revolving credit facility”), which expires in November 2013. As discussed below, the $1 billion available under the revolving credit facility is effectively reduced by the principal amount of any commercial paper outstanding. Borrowings under the revolving credit facility bear interest, at our option, at a rate per annum equal to the floating base rate or LIBOR, plus an applicable margin which varies within a specified band based upon our credit ratings. As of September 30, 2012, there were no amounts outstanding under the revolving credit facility. The revolving credit facility contains covenants limiting our ability to, among other things, incur liens and enter into mergers and consolidations or sales of substantially all our assets, and a financial covenant which requires our interest coverage ratio at the end of each fiscal quarter to equal or exceed 4:1. In addition, the revolving credit facility contains customary events of default and cross-default provisions. The interest coverage ratio is determined by dividing our consolidated pre-tax income by our consolidated interest expense, in each case for the period of four fiscal quarters ending on the date of determination. For purposes of calculating the ratio, our consolidated pre-tax income is not adjusted for certain one-time charges, such as non-cash impairments, currency devaluations, legal or regulatory settlements. As of September 30, 2012, based on the waiver obtained (as discussed further below), and based on interest rates, approximately $820 of the $1 billion revolving credit facility, less the principal amount of any commercial paper outstanding, could have been drawn down without violating any covenant. Term Loan Agreement On June 29, 2012, we entered into a $500.0 term loan agreement (the “term loan agreement”). Subsequently on August 2, 2012, we borrowed an incremental $50.0 of principal from subscriptions by new lenders under the term loan agreement. At September 30, 2012, $550.0 remained outstanding under the term loan agreement. The term loan agreement contains covenants limiting our ability to incur liens and enter into mergers and consolidations or sales of substantially all our assets. In addition, the term loan agreement contains financial covenants which require our interest coverage ratio at the end of each fiscal quarter to equal or exceed 4:1 and our leverage ratio not be greater than 4:1 at the end of each fiscal quarter on or prior to March 31, 2013, and 3.75:1 at the end of each fiscal quarter on or prior to December 31, 2013, and 3.5:1 at the end of each fiscal quarter thereafter. The interest coverage ratio is determined by dividing our consolidated EBIT by our consolidated interest expense, in each case for the period of four fiscal quarters ending on the date of determination. The leverage ratio is determined by dividing the amount of our consolidated funded debt on the date of determination by our consolidated EBITDA for the period of four fiscal quarters ending on the date of determination. For purposes of calculating the ratios, consolidated EBIT and consolidated EBITDA are adjusted for non-cash expenses. In addition, the term loan agreement contains customary events of default and cross-default provisions. Pursuant to the term loan agreement, we are required to repay an amount equal to 25% of the aggregate principal amount of the term loans on June 29, 2014, and the remaining outstanding principal amount of the term loans on June 29, 2015. Amounts repaid or prepaid under the term loan agreement may not be reborrowed. Borrowings under the term loan agreement bear interest, at our option, at a rate per annum equal to LIBOR plus an applicable margin or a floating base rate plus an applicable margin, in each case subject to adjustment based on the credit ratings of the Company. Private Notes In November 2010, we issued in a private placement $535.0 principal amount of notes (the “private notes”) pursuant to a note purchase agreement that contains covenants limiting, among other things, the ability of our subsidiaries to incur indebtedness, our and our subsidiaries' ability to incur liens and our and any subsidiary guarantor's ability to enter into mergers and consolidations or sales of substantially all of our or its assets. In addition, the note purchase agreement contains a financial covenant which requires our interest coverage ratio (which is calculated in the same manner as in the revolving credit facility) at the end of each fiscal quarter to equal or exceed 4:1. The note purchase agreement contains customary events of default and cross-default provisions and any prepayment of the notes would require payment of a make-whole premium. In connection with obtaining the waiver described below from the holders of the private notes (the “private noteholders”), on August 15, 2012, we entered into the first amendment to the note purchase agreement to, among other things, (1) add a financial covenant requiring our leverage ratio (which is calculated in the same manner as in the term loan agreement) not be greater than 4:1 at the end of each fiscal quarter on or prior to March 31, 2013, 3.75:1 at the end of each fiscal quarter thereafter, unless a bank credit agreement or any other principal credit facility contains a leverage ratio more favorable to the private noteholders, then such more favorable ratio will apply for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2014 and thereafter, (2) amend the interest coverage ratio to, subject to the most favored lender provision, add back to our consolidated pre-tax income actual non-cash impairment charges related solely to the Silpada business in an amount not to exceed $125.0 in the aggregate (in addition to the $263.0 non-cash Silpada impairment charge already recorded) during the term of the note purchase agreement, (3) add a most favored lender provision with respect to financial covenants in favor of other lenders and (4) provide a 150 basis point step up of the applicable coupon if our unsecured and unsubordinated debt is not rated above investment grade by a certain number of rating agencies. Waivers Regarding Revolving Credit Facility and Private Notes On July 31, 2012, we obtained waivers from the lenders under our revolving credit facility and our private noteholders that allow us to exclude the non-cash impairment charge of $263.0 associated with the Silpada business recorded during the fourth quarter of 2011 from our interest coverage ratio calculation contained in the revolving credit facility and the note purchase agreement for the four fiscal quarters ending September 30, 2012. Ratio Calculations Our interest coverage ratio, as calculated under both our revolving credit facility and the note purchase agreement associated with our private notes, for the four fiscal quarters ended September 30, 2012 was 5.5:1. The calculated interest coverage ratio of 5.5:1 excludes the non-cash Silpada impairment charge under the terms of the waivers obtained. It is reasonably likely that events will arise that may cause us to be in non-compliance with the interest coverage ratio covenant for the four rolling fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2012 and March 31, 2013, primarily due to a) the overall decline in our business operating results and b) the inclusion of the non-cash impairment charge associated with our operations in China of $44 recorded during the third quarter of 2012. The non-cash impairment charge associated with China had an adverse impact on our interest coverage ratio covenant as of September 30, 2012 of .4 points. Our forecast for the fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2012 and March 31, 2013 does not include the impact of any unanticipated, nonrecurring items, such as significant non-cash impairments, significant currency devaluations, or significant legal or regulatory settlements, which we are currently unable to predict. An inability to comply with this covenant would result in a default under the revolving credit facility and the note purchase agreement. In the event of such a default, the revolving credit facility would no longer be available to support future issuances of commercial paper, the private noteholders would have a right to accelerate payment with a make-whole premium, and this would constitute a cross-default under our term loan and, if the private noteholders accelerate, a cross-default under approximately $1.7 billion of our other debt instruments, which could be accelerated. We would expect to seek to obtain any necessary waivers or amendments prior to any such default from the lenders under our revolving credit facility and our private noteholders; however, there cannot be any assurances that we will be able to do so. In the event that we are unable to obtain a waiver or amendment from our lenders and/or our private noteholders and we do not satisfy the interest coverage ratio, we could seek to repay our note purchase agreement and outstanding commercial paper by securing additional sources of financing, although there can be no assurances that we may be able to secure additional sources of financing, using cash generated from operations held outside of the U.S., and reducing our cash dividend to shareholders. Commercial Paper Program We also maintain a $1 billion commercial paper program, which is supported by the revolving credit facility. Under this program, we may issue from time to time unsecured promissory notes in the commercial paper market in private placements exempt from registration under federal and state securities laws, for a cumulative face amount not to exceed $1 billion outstanding at any one time and with maturities not exceeding 270 days from the date of issue. The commercial paper short-term notes issued under the program are not redeemable prior to maturity and are not subject to voluntary prepayment. Outstanding commercial paper effectively reduces the amount available for borrowing under the revolving credit facility. At September 30, 2012, there was $68.9 outstanding under this program. In 2012, the demand for the Company's commercial paper has declined, partially impacted by rating agency action with respect to the Company. Additional Information As of September 30, 2012, Avon's long-term credit ratings were on the low end of investment grade: Baa1 (Stable Outlook) with Moody's, BBB- (Stable Outlook) with S&P, and BBB- (Negative Outlook) with Fitch. Additional rating agency reviews could result in a change in outlook or further downgrade. Any downgrade or change in outlook may result in an increase to financing costs, including interest expense under the debt instruments described above, and reduced access to lending sources, including the commercial paper market. For more information regarding risks associated with our ability to refinance debt or access certain debt markets, including the commercial paper market, see “Risk Factors - A general economic downturn, a recession globally or in one or more of our geographic regions or sudden disruption in business conditions or other challenges may adversely affect our business and our access to liquidity and capital” included in Item 1A of our 2011 Form 10-K and “Risk Factors - Under certain debt instruments, it is reasonably likely that events will arise that may cause us to be in non-compliance with the interest coverage ratio covenant for the four rolling fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2012 and March 31, 2013, primarily due to the overall decline in our business operating results and the inclusion of the non-cash impairment charge associated with our operations in China during the third quarter of 2012” included in Part II, Item 1A below.

DEBT

Revolving Credit Facility

We maintain a $1 billion revolving credit facility (the “revolving credit facility”), which expires in November 2013. As discussed below, the $1 billion available under the revolving credit facility is effectively reduced by the principal amount of any commercial paper outstanding. Borrowings under the revolving credit facility bear interest, at our option, at a rate per annum equal to the floating base rate or LIBOR, plus an applicable margin which varies within a specified band based upon our credit ratings. As of September 30, 2012, there were no amounts outstanding under the revolving credit facility.

The revolving credit facility contains covenants limiting our ability to, among other things, incur liens and enter into mergers and consolidations or sales of substantially all our assets, and a financial covenant which requires our interest coverage ratio at the end of each fiscal quarter to equal or exceed 4:1. In addition, the revolving credit facility contains customary events of default and cross-default provisions. The interest coverage ratio is determined by dividing our consolidated pre-tax income by our consolidated interest expense, in each case for the period of four fiscal quarters ending on the date of determination. For purposes of calculating the ratio, our consolidated pre-tax income is not adjusted for certain one-time charges, such as non-cash impairments, currency devaluations, legal or regulatory settlements. As of September 30, 2012, based on the waiver obtained (as discussed further below), and based on interest rates, approximately $820 of the $1 billion revolving credit facility, less the principal amount of any commercial paper outstanding, could have been drawn down without violating any covenant.

Term Loan Agreement

On June 29, 2012, we entered into a $500.0 term loan agreement (the “term loan agreement”). Subsequently on August 2, 2012, we borrowed an incremental $50.0 of principal from subscriptions by new lenders under the term loan agreement. At September 30, 2012, $550.0 remained outstanding under the term loan agreement.

The term loan agreement contains covenants limiting our ability to incur liens and enter into mergers and consolidations or sales of substantially all our assets. In addition, the term loan agreement contains financial covenants which require our interest coverage ratio at the end of each fiscal quarter to equal or exceed 4:1 and our leverage ratio not be greater than 4:1 at the end of each fiscal quarter on or prior to March 31, 2013, and 3.75:1 at the end of each fiscal quarter on or prior to December 31, 2013, and 3.5:1 at the end of each fiscal quarter thereafter. The interest coverage ratio is determined by dividing our consolidated EBIT by our consolidated interest expense, in each case for the period of four fiscal quarters ending on the date of determination. The leverage ratio is determined by dividing the amount of our consolidated funded debt on the date of determination by our consolidated EBITDA for the period of four fiscal quarters ending on the date of determination. For purposes of calculating the ratios, consolidated EBIT and consolidated EBITDA are adjusted for non-cash expenses. In addition, the term loan agreement contains customary events of default and cross-default provisions.

Pursuant to the term loan agreement, we are required to repay an amount equal to 25% of the aggregate principal amount of the term loans on June 29, 2014, and the remaining outstanding principal amount of the term loans on June 29, 2015. Amounts repaid or prepaid under the term loan agreement may not be reborrowed. Borrowings under the term loan agreement bear interest, at our option, at a rate per annum equal to LIBOR plus an applicable margin or a floating base rate plus an applicable margin, in each case subject to adjustment based on the credit ratings of the Company.

Private Notes

In November 2010, we issued in a private placement $535.0 principal amount of notes (the “private notes”) pursuant to a note purchase agreement that contains covenants limiting, among other things, the ability of our subsidiaries to incur indebtedness, our and our subsidiaries' ability to incur liens and our and any subsidiary guarantor's ability to enter into mergers and consolidations or sales of substantially all of our or its assets. In addition, the note purchase agreement contains a financial covenant which requires our interest coverage ratio (which is calculated in the same manner as in the revolving credit facility) at the end of each fiscal quarter to equal or exceed 4:1. The note purchase agreement contains customary events of default and cross-default provisions and any prepayment of the notes would require payment of a make-whole premium.

In connection with obtaining the waiver described below from the holders of the private notes (the “private noteholders”), on August 15, 2012, we entered into the first amendment to the note purchase agreement to, among other things, (1) add a financial covenant requiring our leverage ratio (which is calculated in the same manner as in the term loan agreement) not be greater than 4:1 at the end of each fiscal quarter on or prior to March 31, 2013, 3.75:1 at the end of each fiscal quarter thereafter, unless a bank credit agreement or any other principal credit facility contains a leverage ratio more favorable to the private noteholders, then such more favorable ratio will apply for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2014 and thereafter, (2) amend the interest coverage ratio to, subject to the most favored lender provision, add back to our consolidated pre-tax income actual non-cash impairment charges related solely to the Silpada business in an amount not to exceed $125.0 in the aggregate (in addition to the $263.0 non-cash Silpada impairment charge already recorded) during the term of the note purchase agreement, (3) add a most favored lender provision with respect to financial covenants in favor of other lenders and (4) provide a 150 basis point step up of the applicable coupon if our unsecured and unsubordinated debt is not rated above investment grade by a certain number of rating agencies.

Waivers Regarding Revolving Credit Facility and Private Notes

On July 31, 2012, we obtained waivers from the lenders under our revolving credit facility and our private noteholders that allow us to exclude the non-cash impairment charge of $263.0 associated with the Silpada business recorded during the fourth quarter of 2011 from our interest coverage ratio calculation contained in the revolving credit facility and the note purchase agreement for the four fiscal quarters ending September 30, 2012.

Ratio Calculations

Our interest coverage ratio, as calculated under both our revolving credit facility and the note purchase agreement associated with our private notes, for the four fiscal quarters ended September 30, 2012 was 5.5:1. The calculated interest coverage ratio of 5.5:1 excludes the non-cash Silpada impairment charge under the terms of the waivers obtained. It is reasonably likely that events will arise that may cause us to be in non-compliance with the interest coverage ratio covenant for the four rolling fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2012 and March 31, 2013, primarily due to a) the overall decline in our business operating results and b) the inclusion of the non-cash impairment charge associated with our operations in China of $44 recorded during the third quarter of 2012. The non-cash impairment charge associated with China had an adverse impact on our interest coverage ratio covenant as of September 30, 2012 of .4 points. Our forecast for the fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2012 and March 31, 2013 does not include the impact of any unanticipated, nonrecurring items, such as significant non-cash impairments, significant currency devaluations, or significant legal or regulatory settlements, which we are currently unable to predict. An inability to comply with this covenant would result in a default under the revolving credit facility and the note purchase agreement. In the event of such a default, the revolving credit facility would no longer be available to support future issuances of commercial paper, the private noteholders would have a right to accelerate payment with a make-whole premium, and this would constitute a cross-default under our term loan and, if the private noteholders accelerate, a cross-default under approximately $1.7 billion of our other debt instruments, which could be accelerated. We would expect to seek to obtain any necessary waivers or amendments prior to any such default from the lenders under our revolving credit facility and our private noteholders; however, there cannot be any assurances that we will be able to do so. In the event that we are unable to obtain a waiver or amendment from our lenders and/or our private noteholders and we do not satisfy the interest coverage ratio, we could seek to repay our note purchase agreement and outstanding commercial paper by securing additional sources of financing, although there can be no assurances that we may be able to secure additional sources of financing, using cash generated from operations held outside of the U.S., and reducing our cash dividend to shareholders.

Commercial Paper Program

We also maintain a $1 billion commercial paper program, which is supported by the revolving credit facility. Under this program, we may issue from time to time unsecured promissory notes in the commercial paper market in private placements exempt from registration under federal and state securities laws, for a cumulative face amount not to exceed $1 billion outstanding at any one time and with maturities not exceeding 270 days from the date of issue. The commercial paper short-term notes issued under the program are not redeemable prior to maturity and are not subject to voluntary prepayment. Outstanding commercial paper effectively reduces the amount available for borrowing under the revolving credit facility. At September 30, 2012, there was $68.9 outstanding under this program. In 2012, the demand for the Company's commercial paper has declined, partially impacted by rating agency action with respect to the Company.

Additional Information

As of September 30, 2012, Avon's long-term credit ratings were on the low end of investment grade: Baa1 (Stable Outlook) with Moody's, BBB- (Stable Outlook) with S&P, and BBB- (Negative Outlook) with Fitch. Additional rating agency reviews could result in a change in outlook or further downgrade. Any downgrade or change in outlook may result in an increase to financing costs, including interest expense under the debt instruments described above, and reduced access to lending sources, including the commercial paper market. For more information regarding risks associated with our ability to refinance debt or access certain debt markets, including the commercial paper market, see “Risk Factors - A general economic downturn, a recession globally or in one or more of our geographic regions or sudden disruption in business conditions or other challenges may adversely affect our business and our access to liquidity and capital” included in Item 1A of our 2011 Form 10-K and “Risk Factors - Under certain debt instruments, it is reasonably likely that events will arise that may cause us to be in non-compliance with the interest coverage ratio covenant for the four rolling fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2012 and March 31, 2013, primarily due to the overall decline in our business operating results and the inclusion of the non-cash impairment charge associated with our operations in China during the third quarter of 2012” included in Part II, Item 1A below.