Howdy,
I'm fairly new to str8 razor shaving but to address your questions I agree with bingo bango, starting with this can be a little overwhelming and intensive but with practice you will get the closest shave possible utilizing a str8. However, your concern seems focused on the moisturizing affect rather than shaving itself, having said that skin cells replenish and rejuvinate naturally but thier are many products(aftershave balms/lotions, etc) that are designed to address exactly that.
All considering it's farily expensive to get a good setup and with proper care and product selection you will see a definite improvement in shave quality and skin condition.
The main issues of concern for you are the shaving soap and aftershave selection, not to say that either thing else is trival. plus if your a blade guy, which most of us are, shaving with a srt8 is just cool and nestalgic abiet more intensive their is a more zhen type thing when compared to the sh%!@ rountine of "normal" shaving with mediocere results.