Washable coloring compositions comprising mixtures of specific low-molecular weight carboxylic acids and carboxylates are provided. Such mixtures are produced through the partial neutralization of a carboxylic acid by a base to provide a relatively neutral pH mixture comprising some acid and some carboxylate species. Such mixtures provide excellent washability enhancing performance in association with colorants and inks. Also, these specific mixtures exhibit low viscosities which allow for greater amounts of washability enhancing additive and colorant to be added within colorant and ink formulations while simultaneously permitting the mention of sufficiently low overall viscosities of the target compositions. Such mixtures provide highly effective prevention of permanent colorations to certain substrates, such as skin, clothing, and the like, by the inks, dyes, and the like, within the target compositions. Marker styluses, writing implements, and other colorant transfer devices, containing these inventive compositions, are also encompassed within this invention.