Sounds like living off horseback and carrying your water in a canteen.
Rubbing water and soap into your face works, I prep with a dime size dollop of Trader Joe’s Mango shave cream in a tube on a wet face. A tube last about a year and cost $5-6. Then prep my gear, soak a brush in hot water double boiler mug, select soap & strop a razor. Lather and shave with hot water and well heated and soaked brush.
I do notice the difference, shaving without the Mango cream prep, it is a very slick soap, and does not affect the lather making of any other cream or soap, I face lather and work it into my face.
My whole shaving routine takes 10-15 minutes from start to finish, 3 passes, and includes mopping up water, and cleaning the mirror and sink with a microfiber.