I had tried making up - with some success - an after shave balm. I decided to apply the formula to a pre-shave. It woks for me.
I apply it after my shower and before each shaving pass. If anyone wishes here is the formulation:
Mix 2 parts Shea butter with 1 part of Coconut oil by volume
Add about 4 Table spoons of Glycerine for each 1/2 cup of the above mixture
Melt in a double boiler.
Add Stearic Acid in the above liquid until it equals about 20-25% of the volume
Add about 1 Table spoon of grape seed oil per 1/2 cup of the mixture.
Pour into a container and let cool.
It forms a salve that you rub into your beard before each shave pass.
As I said seems to soften my steel wire beard and added to the glide of the razor.