Objective To explore the efficacy and safety of intense pulsed light and laser therapy in facial skin aesthetics. Methods A total of 150 patients with facial skin aesthetics admitted to Jingmen Central Hospital from January 2022 to January 2024 were selected, and they were randomly divided into control group and observation group, with 75 patients in each group. The control group received laser therapy, and the observation group received intense pulsed light therapy on the basis of the control group. The clinical efficacy, skin condition and adverse reactions were compared between the two groups. Results The total effective rate of the observation group was 93.33%, which was higher than 76.00% of the control group (P <0.05). After treatment, the scores of wrinkles, deep spots, pores, surface pigment, sensitivity and acne in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (P <0.05). The incidence of adverse reactions in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (P <0.05). Conclusion For patients with facial skin aesthetics, the combination of intense pulsed light and laser therapy can enhance the aesthetic effect and improve the skin quality, but does not increase the incidence of adverse reactions.