ok…interesting…the only thing is that, with these pads, they are dry and silky smooth – hence the mindbending mystery! Seriously – totally dry and silky, wipe them across your face, still dry and silky but you can see the oil – it becomes all translucent (totally hot, right? ;) anyhow – i’ve wandered around a bit on how stuff works, but never had the time to complete such an inane search project…fluther makes my random questions and the consequent searches so much more justifiable!!