Spend five minutes with Rumana Nazim as she shares her favourite things with MADAME Arabia

The book on my bedside table is…

The Persians by Sanam Mahloudji, which is a sharp and slightly outrageous matriarchal saga where bad behaviour passes neatly down generations. 

A luxury I can’t live without…

Eight uninterrupted hours of sleep in bamboo lyocell sheets.

The love of my life is…

My husband, but he competes with my undying love for slow and early mornings with nowhere to be. 

The three words that describe me best are…

Chooses battles wisely.

I feel most inspired when…

I’ve cleared my inbox, which is rare, but when it happens, I finally have space to be creative instead of just ticking off tasks.

The best piece of advice I’ve ever received is…

Control what you can and stop losing sleep over the rest.

The three beauty products I can’t live without are…

Noble Panacea Overnight Peel, my terrifyingly sharp brow pencil, and my ice face roller or the Medicube device, depending on how much fatigue I’m fixing.

The best album of all time…

Anything from the era that lets you sing loud enough for people to evacuate, like Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours or Queen’s Greatest Hits.

My favourite pair of shoes…

Right now, my Saint Laurent Jeanne pumps with the gold toe box, which gives me just enough witchy energy.

The trend I’ll never forget is…

Skinny eyebrows, because they’re proof that beauty trends can be both influential and unforgiving.

My go-to coffee order is…

Green tea, half-hot, half-cold, because there’s nothing like a drink I have to explain a few times over every single time.

The podcast I never miss is…

Any true crime series gripping enough to make me forget I should be asleep.

My signature scent is…

Cherry Oud by Guerlain, which I prefer to pretend no one else has discovered.

My style icon is…

Phoebe Philo’s Céline era for the art of dressing like you’re not trying but still owning the room.

In another life, I would be…

An art dealer in Paris or restoring old houses in the countryside, surrounded by hydrangea and lemon trees.

The best item in my wardrobe is…

A vintage blazer that makes me look like I’ve made very few mistakes in life.

My favourite place in the world is…

My living room with candles lit, music playing, a mug of tea, and the people I love in the room with me.

My hero is…

Anyone who is able to handle difficult situations with logic, grace, and kindness.