The embodiment of the invention discloses a face identification method and system, a terminal and a server. At least two face images of a heart rate cycle are collected, and blood volume pulse wave signals are extracted from the at least two face images, and then the blood volume pulse wave signals are sent to a server for living body face detection; when a detection result of the at least two face images are living body face images returned by the server is received, face features are extracted from the at least two face images and sent to the server for face identification to greatly combinea face identification process and a living body detection process, the extracted blood volume pulse wave signals are employed to determined whether a face to be identified is a living body or not, the face identification process is completed in the condition that the face to be identified is the living body, and therefore, the face identification method and system, he terminal and the server havea certain determination ability to effectively improve safety and practicality of face identification.