Intense pulsed light (IPL) is a kind of photoelectric technology, which is another development after laser technology. It is widely used in cosmetic dermatology, and can solve various skin problems such as dilated capillaries, hair, pigmented spots, etc. In addition, it has many advantages, including non-invasive, short treatment period, and so on. Based on this, this article reviews the principles of IPL and its related applications in cosmetic dermatology, in order to to provide relevant reference for clinical application.