In　recent　years,　the　research　on　detecting　human　faces　in　color　image　and　in　video　sequence　has　been　attracted　with　more　and　more　people,　but　automatic　human　face　detection　from　images　in　surveillance　and　biometric　applications　is　still　a　challenging　task　due　to　the　computation　inaccuracies　and　the　continuous　nature　of　some　transformations.　In　this　paper　we　propose　a　novel　face　detection　algorithms　based　on　combining　skin　color　model,　edge　information　and　features　of　human　eyes　in　color　image.　First,　the　elliptical　skin　model　in　YCbCr　color　space　is　constructed　to　segment　skin　color　pixels　from　the　background　image　in　conjunction　with　edge　information.　Then　we　can　use　mathematical　morphological　operators　to　fill　holes　in　the　regions,　and　extract　candidate　face　regions.　Finally,　face　verification　is　employed　to　determine　whether　candidate　regions　are　face　regions.　Experimental　results　show　the　accuracy　and　robustness　of　the　algorithm　by　testing　a　great　deal　of　face　color　images.　©　2010　IEEE.