A new 3-D reconstruction algorithm for the human face is proposed using the derivative Moir$acute{e}$ topography which ensures fast and robust reconstruction even for rough surfaces. The Moir$acute{e}$ interference fringe pattern is initially obtained through the projection Moir$acute{e}$ topography based on phase shifting, and then differentiated to provide a full unwrapped phase map for a human face. $2{pi}$ ambiguity, which has been a chronically unsolved problem with Moir$acute{e}$ topography, is successfully surmounted by differentiating the Moir$acute{e}$ fringe patterns both in x- and y-directions when the object is located in the x-y plane. A real human face is used for verifying the proposed derivative Moir$acute{e}$ topography. A human face of 4 different phase-shifted images taken in the fixed plane is almost fully reconstructed in 3-D format in 0.1 mm lateral resolution.