Just a clarification. I would never use an oil that stays on the surface of your skin. This indeed would make proper stretching difficult if not impossible. A good preshave oil is quickly absorbed into the skin, where it supplements your bodies natural sebium and softens the hairs. You can test an oil quite simply by massaging a few drops into your hands. If your hands feel greasy afterwards, then the oil is not being absorbed. If they simply feel soft and moist, then you have a good oil.