An absorbent personal care article, comprising: a structure having an absorbent core positioned between at least a body-facing layer and a backsheet layer, the structure having a peripheral edge and a central portion; and a coated area (50; 55, 60; 70) located on at least one layer of the structure between the peripheral edge and the central portion of the structure of the absorbent personal care article, the coated area (50; 55, 60; 70) comprising a liquid surfactant composition comprising: an anionic surfactant selected from alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates, alkyl ether sulfonates, sulfate esters of an alkylphenoxy polyoxyethylene ethanol, α-olefin sulfonates, β-alkoxy alkane sulfonates, alkylaryl sulfonates, alkyl monoglyceride sulfates, alkyl monoglyceride sulfonates, alkyl carbonates, alkyl ether carboxylates, alkyl phosphates, alkyl ether phosphates, sulfosuccinates, sarcosinates, octoxynol or nonoxynol phosphates, taurates, fatty acid amide polyoxyethylene sulfates, isethionates, and/or combinations thereof, wherein the anionic surfactant is present in an amount of from 50% (by weight of the composition) to 99.9% (by weight of the composition); and a cationic surfactant selected from fatty amine salts, alkyl pyridinium salts, quaternary ammonium salts, quaternized amine ethoxylates, alkyl ammonium salts, polymeric ammonium salts, aryl ammonium salts, alkyl aryl ammonium salts, quaternized dimethicones, quaternized silanes, and combinations thereof, wherein the cationic surfactant is present in an amount of from 0.1% (by weight of the composition) to 50% (by weight of the composition); wherein the liquid surfactant composition swells in the presence of water or body fluids. a structure having an absorbent core positioned between at least a body-facing layer and a backsheet layer, the structure having a peripheral edge and a central portion; and a coated area (50; 55, 60; 70) located on at least one layer of the structure between the peripheral edge and the central portion of the structure of the absorbent personal care article, the coated area (50; 55, 60; 70) comprising a liquid surfactant composition comprising: an anionic surfactant selected from alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates, alkyl ether sulfonates, sulfate esters of an alkylphenoxy polyoxyethylene ethanol, α-olefin sulfonates, β-alkoxy alkane sulfonates, alkylaryl sulfonates, alkyl monoglyceride sulfates, alkyl monoglyceride sulfonates, alkyl carbonates, alkyl ether carboxylates, alkyl phosphates, alkyl ether phosphates, sulfosuccinates, sarcosinates, octoxynol or nonoxynol phosphates, taurates, fatty acid amide polyoxyethylene sulfates, isethionates, and/or combinations thereof, wherein the anionic surfactant is present in an amount of from 50% (by weight of the composition) to 99.9% (by weight of the composition); and a cationic surfactant selected from fatty amine salts, alkyl pyridinium salts, quaternary ammonium salts, quaternized amine ethoxylates, alkyl ammonium salts, polymeric ammonium salts, aryl ammonium salts, alkyl aryl ammonium salts, quaternized dimethicones, quaternized silanes, and combinations thereof, wherein the cationic surfactant is present in an amount of from 0.1% (by weight of the composition) to 50% (by weight of the composition); wherein the liquid surfactant composition swells in the presence of water or body fluids. an anionic surfactant selected from alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates, alkyl ether sulfonates, sulfate esters of an alkylphenoxy polyoxyethylene ethanol, α-olefin sulfonates, β-alkoxy alkane sulfonates, alkylaryl sulfonates, alkyl monoglyceride sulfates, alkyl monoglyceride sulfonates, alkyl carbonates, alkyl ether carboxylates, alkyl phosphates, alkyl ether phosphates, sulfosuccinates, sarcosinates, octoxynol or nonoxynol phosphates, taurates, fatty acid amide polyoxyethylene sulfates, isethionates, and/or combinations thereof, wherein the anionic surfactant is present in an amount of from 50% (by weight of the composition) to 99.9% (by weight of the composition); and a cationic surfactant selected from fatty amine salts, alkyl pyridinium salts, quaternary ammonium salts, quaternized amine ethoxylates, alkyl ammonium salts, polymeric ammonium salts, aryl ammonium salts, alkyl aryl ammonium salts, quaternized dimethicones, quaternized silanes, and combinations thereof, wherein the cationic surfactant is present in an amount of from 0.1% (by weight of the composition) to 50% (by weight of the composition); wherein the liquid surfactant composition swells in the presence of water or body fluids.