Methods, systems, and computer-readable storage mediums for detecting facial liveliness are provided. Implementations include actions of processing first and second facial images of a subject to determine first and second corneal reflections of an object, the first and second facial images being captured at first and second sequential time points, determining a corneal reflection change of the object based on the determined first and second corneal reflections, comparing the determined corneal reflection change of the object to a known change associated with the first and second time points, and determining facial liveliness of the subject based on a result of the comparison. The known change can be a motion of a camera device or an illumination change of an illuminator.