I am glad to see you are making progress. I guess the Softgard blades are sort of like training wheels on a bike. If they help you get started and develop the skills you need....wonderful!

If you are getting skin irritation even using a DE razor, there are a few things that might help.
1. Be sure your face and beard are properly prepared for the shave. I like to shower before my shave using shampoo and conditioner on both my hair and my face to be sure the beard is clean and hydrated. That make it far easier to shave.
2. You might be different, but I find that if I wait too long between shaves, my beard is harder to shave and I can get more irritation.
3. Consider upgrading your lather. Nearly any soap and cream will work for those whose face is not sensitive. However, if you do have sensitive skin, using a superb soap that offers outstanding slickness, ample cushion to protect your skin from the blade, and wonderful post-shave moisturizing and conditioning can make a big difference.
4. People with sensitive skin often think that they can reduce irritation by using a mild razor and a mild blade. However, if you end up applying pressure during the shave because your razor is not efficient enough to do the job or the blade is not sharp enough for your beard, then you might be creating more irritation.