The process of the relaxation of a surface layer of a multicomponent liquid system consisting of polar and nonpolar molecules and ions has been analyzed by the methods of nonequilibrium thermodynamics. The cases of slow orientation of the molecules on the surface under the conditions of diffusional equilibrium, a diffusion-controlled orientation process on the surface, and an ionic mechanism for the formation of a surface electrical potential have been considered separately. The influence of such a potential on the surface tension of a liquid during relaxation is discussed.