Privacy policy

Effective Date: April 2026

AVOA Cosmetics respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information you share with us. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and disclose your information when you visit our website, place an order, contact us, or interact with our services.

This policy is designed to align with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and to provide clear information about your rights and our responsibilities as a business operating in South Africa.

1. Information We Collect

We may collect personal information when you interact with our website or services. This can include information you provide directly, as well as information collected automatically through your use of the site.

Information you may provide includes:

Full name
Email address
Telephone number
Billing address
Delivery address
Order details
Messages sent through our contact form
Return or support request details
Account or subscription information, where applicable

Information collected automatically may include:

IP address
Browser type
Device type
Location information approximated from your device or internet connection
Pages visited
Time spent on pages
Referring website or source
Shopping behaviour and website interaction data

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information for legitimate business purposes, including:

Processing and fulfilling your orders
Managing shipping and delivery
Providing customer support
Handling returns, refunds, and exchanges
Sending order confirmations, dispatch notifications, and service updates
Responding to enquiries submitted through our website
Detecting fraud, abuse, or suspicious activity
Improving our website, products, service, and customer experience
Sending marketing communications where you have opted in to receive them
Complying with legal, tax, accounting, and administrative obligations

We only use your information where it is necessary to provide our services, meet legal requirements, protect our business interests, or where you have given consent.

3. Legal Basis for Processing

Where applicable, AVOA processes personal information on the basis of:

Performance of a contract
Legal obligations
Legitimate business interests
Consent
Protection against fraud or misuse
Customer support and fulfilment requirements

4. Sharing Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We may share information only with trusted service providers where necessary to operate our business and complete your order. These may include:

Shopify, which powers our online store
Payment processors such as PayFast or other secure gateways
Courier and logistics partners for delivery
Email and communications service providers
IT, hosting, analytics, and security providers
Professional advisers where legally necessary

These third parties are only given access to the information they require to perform their functions.

5. Payment Information

When you make a payment, your payment information is handled through secure third-party payment systems. AVOA does not store your full card details on our servers. Payment processors may retain transaction data in accordance with their own security and regulatory obligations.

6. Data Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes described in this policy, or as long as required by law, accounting obligations, dispute handling, or recordkeeping requirements.

When information is no longer needed, we take reasonable steps to securely delete, anonymise, or archive it as appropriate.

7. Security of Your Information

We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information from loss, misuse, unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. While we strive to safeguard all information, no online system can be guaranteed as completely secure.

You are also responsible for protecting your own account details, passwords, and access to your email inbox or device.

8. Cookies and Analytics

Our website may use cookies, tracking tools, and analytics technologies to improve functionality, understand user behaviour, and support marketing or performance analysis.

These tools may help us:

Remember preferences
Analyse website traffic
Measure site performance
Improve product discovery
Support advertising or remarketing where permitted

You may be able to control cookies through your browser settings, but disabling certain cookies may affect website performance or shopping functionality.

9. Your Rights Under POPIA

Subject to applicable law, you have the right to:

Request access to the personal information we hold about you
Request correction of inaccurate or outdated information
Request deletion of your information where legally permissible
Withdraw consent for marketing communications
Object to certain processing activities in some circumstances
Lodge a complaint regarding how your data is handled

To exercise these rights, please contact us at Info@avoa.co.za.

10. Marketing Communications

If you opt in to receive marketing emails or promotions, we may send you product news, offers, launch announcements, and brand updates. You may unsubscribe from marketing communications at any time by using the unsubscribe link in the email or by contacting us directly.

Please note that order-related communication, such as receipts, shipping updates, and support messages, may still be sent even if you unsubscribe from promotional emails.

11. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites or services. AVOA is not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those external websites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party site you visit.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal obligations, or website functionality. Any updates will be posted on this page with a revised effective date.