thank you for all your replies and advice

Use a hot washcloth before you shave and press it to your face. I then use a facial scrub (St. Ives apricot scrub) to soften the hair so that the razor just glides. Using any product on my freshly shaven face would make me prone to soreness/rashiness so I close the pores with a cold, clean washcloth then moisturise a little while after.

Heat up the blades in a sink or bowl of hot water before use. That ****s with any of the moisturising strips on the razor a bit but ensures a close shave and minimises friction.

If I were to shave too often - before the facial hair has grown a few days - I would get the problem you do.

Witch hazel is a very gentle, soothing astringent and it helps with inflammation, disinfecting & shrinking pores. Rubbing alcohol, tea tree oil and soap are very drying/potentially irritating. You have to clean the area so bacteria does not get trapped in the newly exposed follicles/damaged skin and witch hazel is just the least irritating option. That being said, you want to buy "pure" witch hazel (WITHOUT ALCOHOL) and not some random concoction which just happens to include witch hazel (... drugstore toners). It has a lot of uses, so it's not bad to have around either (bug bites, cuts, etc).

It gets a bad rep because lots of companies like to throw it into toners with an alarming amount of alcohol, making it seem quite drying.

try shaving in the shower with just a face wash