I have always taken buffing as going over the same area in short repeating/advancing strokes.
I refer to it as touch ups - usually done with water only going over the face. There is some slickness left from the lather. It allows for the closest shave. Barbers referred to it as the "second time over" in my Barbering textbook.
Just a shower prep for me. 30 second brush soak in hot water sitting on puck.
Dump water, gather some lather and go to town. always enough for a three pass plus touchups.