I think if you re read your original post you will see you appear to have answered your own question. When I started DE shaving and for years before that with cartridge shaving, I always applied an aftershave balm afterwards. For quite a while afterwards I had burn and redness and pimply outbreaks. I switched to sensitive balms as after all I had sensitive skin according to the packaging.......BS!

Go back to basics. If the blades you are using are giving you a close shave then continue with them. Wash your face and throat with soap in the shower then apply lather and shave. rinse after your chosen number of passes with warm water to wash away any shaving soap residue, then rinse well with cold water. DO NOTHING ELSE. If after a few days you notice less irritation then it is probably your balm that is causing the problems. Balm can block the skins pores and lead to irritation. Why are you using it? When I stopped using balm I waited a few days to see results then started using aftershave. I used Old Spice Fresh Lime (Shulton formula) and now Fonex Malibu from Turkey. I always had irritation before when I used aftershave because of my sensitive skin that I used sensitive skin balm for. Guess what? I don't have sensitive skin and I don't need balm. You probably don't either. A decent high alcohol aftershave will smooth, moisturise and polish the skin leaving it smooth to the touch and irritation free. Lots of us see averts on TV or in magazines telling us we need aftershave balm to combat this and that which is how they sell so much of it. Going back to basics with just face wash, shaving soap, razor and blade will soon let you see what's at fault.

As far as applying oil to your face then lathering over it I would be wary if you value your brush. Most brush manufacturers will advise against this as oil, whether shaving oil or food related ie almond, olive etc, will clog up the hair in the brush and inhibit it to fulfil it's role as it will no longer take up water if the strands are full of oil.

I hope this helps. I was in the same boat and was more than a little dismayed after reading so much about De shaving before I tried it and having nothing but irritation before I went back to square one and removed as many products as I could.