A well treatment composition comprises a surfactant comprising a substituted ethoxylated phenol having at least one substituent, 1 to 14 moles of ethylene oxide, and the substituent being an alkyl, alkene, or alkyne with a carbon chain length in the range of 4 to 25, wherein the substituted ethoxylated phenol is selected from the group consisting of: ortho-, para-, or meta-substituted ethoxylated phenol; cardanol ethoxylate; derivatives thereof; and combinations of any of the foregoing. Preferably, the surfactant comprises cardanol ethoxylate, a substituted cardanol ethoxylate, and derivatives thereof. A method of cementing in a subterranean formation comprises: introducing a cement composition into the subterranean formation, wherein the cement composition comprises: (A) cement; (B) water; and (C) the surfactant; and allowing the cement composition to set.