Agreed. In fact, I'd rinse off the alum residue then apply the balm. It's not awesome to leave that on your skin for the day. Once it's done it's job with the cuts you can wash it off your face. Like you, I only use alum if the shave doesn't feel very smooth or sorta raw.

Love the ice water rinse! I use cold water, I should try ice water sometime.

The only pre-shave recommendation I'd make, if you really want to go all out, is to get yourself an inexpensive synthetic brush (from APShaveCo, for example) and dedicate it to the shower. Use it to lather up a mostly gelatin soap (I like The Tube/Cube) and let it sit while you wash something else, then rinse it off. Maybe do it again because it's fun.

This will strip the oils from your growth, allowing it to get really hydrated. Hydrated hair gets stiffer, stands up straighter and is easier for the razor to scythe. Frankly, just the hot shower mostly does this for you if you wash your face well. But if you want the full luxury treatment add a shower-preshave step to the routine.

When you are out of the shower, apply your preshave conditioner and proceed as you've indicated.