A process for making a surfactant composition is disclosed. In the process, a mixture comprising a sugar alcohol and fatty is formed. The mixture contains less than 5% by weight of water based on the total weight of the mixture. The mixture is reacted with an alkylene oxide to make a surfactant composition containing an alkoxylated sugar alcohol fatty acid ester and a polyalkylene glycol fatty acid ester. A surfactant composition and use of the surfactant composition to separate an oil phase and/or an aqueous phase from an emulsion is also disclosed.