A mixture of citric acid esters of ethoxylated alcohols wherein the residue of the alcohol contains from 12 to 18 carbon atoms ethoxylated with from 5 to 9 ethoxy groups and a ratio by weight of monoester to diester in the mixture of citric acid esters in a range of 3:1 to 10:1. The mixture contains less than 10% by weight of unesterified citric acid. The citric acid ester mixture provides improved foaming ability and reduced lachrimatory properties when compared to citric acid esters containing a different ratio of monoester to diester and containing longer or shorter chain length alcohol residues.