You can put the Butter either directly on your skin or on the shorts. I put it on my skin - where the pad runs out to prevent chafing on a long ride. I don't bother with it unless it's going to be a long day.

About the shorts - I had the same thing happen with the Castelli shorts I loved last year. I suspect the pads wear out. Look at what happens to your padded gloves. Seems to me it would happen to shorts as well.

I scoot back a lot on the tandem since the geometry of the bike doesn't allow me to get my handlebars level with my saddle. I don't scoot on my single. For me, saddle and handlebars level, with the saddle nose canted up slightly works.

Veronica