The invention discloses a method for carrying out face retrieval in a normalized three-dimension face database. The method has the advantage that human event observation and information processing modes can be effectively simulated for building a more efficient and simpler face retrieval method and system. The method comprises the following steps that (1) model normalization is carried out: three-dimension face data is subjected to preprocessing of smoothening, denoising, shearing, coordinate correction and aligning, an obtained three-dimension face sample is to be used as a normalized three-dimension face, and the following model coordinate system is defined by a corresponding cylinder enveloping surface: a center axis of a cylinder is used as the Z axis, the direction passing through the nose tip point and being vertical to the Z axis is used as the Y axis, and the X axis is obtained through the multiplication cross of the Y axis and the Z axis; (2) the visual saliency is used as the measurement principle for carrying out sample saliency region definition and feature extraction; (3) the single-feature identification degree is used as the basis for feature weighing overlapping, the multi-feature fusion inter-face feature similarity measurement is realized, and the face retrieval is realized.